repudiate

[ri-pyoo-dee-eyt] /rɪˈpyu diˌeɪt/

verb (used with object), repudiated, repudiating.

to reject as having no authority or binding force:

to repudiate a claim.

to cast off or disown:

to repudiate a son.

to reject with disapproval or condemnation:

to repudiate a new doctrine.

to reject with denial:

to repudiate a charge as untrue.

to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.

Origin

1535-45; < Latin repudiātus (past participle of repudiāre to reject, refuse), equivalent to repudi(um) a casting off, divorce (re- re- + pud(ere) to make ashamed, feel shame (see pudendum) + -ium -ium) + -ātus -ate¹

Related forms

repudiable, adjective

repudiative, adjective

repudiator, noun

nonrepudiable, adjective

nonrepudiative, adjective

unrepudiable, adjective

unrepudiated, adjective

unrepudiative, adjective

Can be confused

repudiate, refute, refudiate (see word story at refudiate)

Synonyms

1. disavow, renounce, discard, disclaim. 3. condemn, disapprove.

Antonyms

1. accept. 3. approve.

Examples from the web for repudiate

To affirm this as a psychiatric malady is to repudiate the principles of science itself.
Our leaders-and would-be leaders-should repudiate this sort of fatalism.
Before me now is plaintiff's motion to repudiate the settlement agreement.

British Dictionary definitions for repudiate

repudiate

/rɪˈpjuːdɪˌeɪt/

verb (transitive)

to reject the authority or validity of; refuse to accept or ratify: Congress repudiated the treaty that the President had negotiated

to refuse to acknowledge or pay (a debt)

to cast off or disown (a son, lover, etc)

Derived Forms

repudiable, adjective
repudiation, noun
repudiative, adjective
repudiator, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin repudiāre to put away, from repudium a separation, divorce, from re- + pudēre to be ashamed

Word Origin and History for repudiate

1540s, "to cast off by divorce," from Latin repudiatus, past participle of repudiare "to cast off, put away, divorce, reject, scorn, disdain," from repudium "divorce, rejection, a putting away, dissolution of marriage," from re- "back, away" (see re-) + pudium, probably related to pes-/ped- "foot" [Barnhart]. If this is so, the original notion may be of kicking something away, but folk etymology commonly connects it with pudere "cause shame to." Of opinions, conduct, etc., "to refuse to acknowledge," attested from 1824. Earliest in English as an adjective meaning "divorced, rejected, condemned" (mid-15c.). Related: Repudiated; repudiating.