1
as in withdrew
to break a promise or agreement
my so-called best friend promised to help me move, only to renege come Saturday morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in renounced
to solemnly or formally reject or go back on (as something formerly adhered to)
refused to renege the principles by which she had always lived her life, even if it resulted in losing her business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reneged
Bruce Blakeman, a Long Island Republican county executive who is challenging Hochul, said the governor reneged on her promise not to levy new taxes.
—
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
At time of writing, Iran has reneged on reopening the Strait of Hormuz owing to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, where at least 254 people were killed on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defence, marking the deadliest day of the entire conflict.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Apr. 2026
Bondi reneged on that promise, which in turn led to Congress passing a bill, which Trump signed into law, mandating the release of those files.
—Dan Mangan,karen James Sloan, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Lawyers for former Angels communications director Eric Kay say the team has reneged on its promise to pay Kay’s legal fees from the Tyler Skaggs case.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
However, Altenar says that agreement never materialized, and Sportradar reneged on the promise.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2026
An agreement made by one administration could be reneged on by the next.
—Debak Das, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
After Carvalho famously reneged on his commitment to leave Miami-Dade schools for New York’s in 2018, Carranza was hired in Carvalho’s stead.
—Jake Shore, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Baltimore has reneged on agreements in the past due to players not passing physicals, such as wide receiver Ryan Grant and defensive tackle Michael Brockers in 2020, according to the Athletic.
—Pat Leonard, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
At time of writing, Iran has reneged on reopening the Strait of Hormuz owing to Israeli strikes on Lebanon, where at least 254 people were killed on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defence, marking the deadliest day of the entire conflict.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Apr. 2026
Bondi reneged on that promise, which in turn led to Congress passing a bill, which Trump signed into law, mandating the release of those files.
—Dan Mangan,karen James Sloan, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Lawyers for former Angels communications director Eric Kay say the team has reneged on its promise to pay Kay’s legal fees from the Tyler Skaggs case.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
However, Altenar says that agreement never materialized, and Sportradar reneged on the promise.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2026
An agreement made by one administration could be reneged on by the next.
—Debak Das, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
After Carvalho famously reneged on his commitment to leave Miami-Dade schools for New York’s in 2018, Carranza was hired in Carvalho’s stead.
—Jake Shore, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Baltimore has reneged on agreements in the past due to players not passing physicals, such as wide receiver Ryan Grant and defensive tackle Michael Brockers in 2020, according to the Athletic.
—Pat Leonard, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reneged
Verb
-
Camp Mystic officials withdrew their application to reopen this summer, a day after an emotional legislative hearing attended by the parents of the girls killed by a flood at the camp last year.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
-
Trump withdrew his first nominee, Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat, after questions were raised about her academic credentials.—
Ali Swenson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Philip Fong | Afp | Getty Images Japan renounced war under Article 9 of its post-World War II pacifist constitution.—
Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
President Ahmed al-Sharaa is a one-time al-Qaeda commander who renounced the ideology before taking power.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bode recalled in a video shared on TikTok.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Merriman recalled watching the event as well as Stardom’s show.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Lucas, known for making false confessions, later retracted his claim, and other evidence disproved his connection to the murder.—
JACK BROOK,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Author Michael Wolff said last year that Epstein played a role in introducing the couple in a Daily Beast article that was later retracted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the seller backed out of the deal.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
So after winning a chance to spend $560 for individual tickets in a FIFA lottery last fall, Levinson backed out.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the country’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has denied Cuba has political prisoners and has stressed that his government is not negotiating any internal political matters with the United States.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Beyoncé's publicist has denied rumors that the singer's next album will be released the week of the Met Gala.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Torrance police backed off, the suspect drove into a gas station and parked.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The younger man backed off and Lacaille drove away.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During their investigation, police found evidence that contradicted Kirby's explanation.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the new information ran counter to narratives his defense had told reporters or submitted to the court, but some also contradicted statements by the prosecution and the government.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reneged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reneged. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
