1
as in withdrawing
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 renouncing
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 reneging
The lawsuit filed last month by Moriarty and the state accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of some 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.
—
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.
—Mark Vancleave, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The mayor of Hammond, Indiana, says train company Norfolk Southern is reneging on a promise to partly finance the construction of a pedestrian overpass at a dangerous rail crossing that was the subject of a ProPublica investigation.
—Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit accuses Shell of reneging on a deal involving a TV show but tells a much broader story of the government influencing Paramount’s business dealings.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Kallas said reneging on that goes against EU treaties.
—Sam McNeil, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
In a time when the message from Washington is to double down on fossil fuel use, Northeast governors are reneging on climate commitments.
—Susan Moynihan, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Binance, however, appears to be reneging on its promise.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
But Republicans reject the idea of reopening months of bipartisan negotiations and argue that Democrats are reneging on a deal their own appropriators helped write, which also passed the House last week, before the shooting in Minneapolis.
—Nik Popli, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2026
The lawsuit accuses the federal government of reneging on its promise to cooperate with state investigations after the surge of around 3,000 federal law enforcement officers into Minnesota.
—Mark Vancleave, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The mayor of Hammond, Indiana, says train company Norfolk Southern is reneging on a promise to partly finance the construction of a pedestrian overpass at a dangerous rail crossing that was the subject of a ProPublica investigation.
—Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 25 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit accuses Shell of reneging on a deal involving a TV show but tells a much broader story of the government influencing Paramount’s business dealings.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
Kallas said reneging on that goes against EU treaties.
—Sam McNeil, Arkansas Online, 24 Feb. 2026
In a time when the message from Washington is to double down on fossil fuel use, Northeast governors are reneging on climate commitments.
—Susan Moynihan, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Binance, however, appears to be reneging on its promise.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
But Republicans reject the idea of reopening months of bipartisan negotiations and argue that Democrats are reneging on a deal their own appropriators helped write, which also passed the House last week, before the shooting in Minneapolis.
—Nik Popli, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reneging
Verb
-
Since 2016, federal officials allege, Meade has been trying to avoid paying the tax obligation through a number of tactics, which include withdrawing large sums of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Legitimate companies do not walk you through withdrawing cash, using crypto ATMs or buying gold to solve a problem.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The program calls for the recognition of Israel and renouncing armed struggle, effectively sidelining Hamas and other factions.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Returning to the guitars that characterized the band’s earliest work without renouncing their latter-day synths, MacFarlane gives Graham’s ruminations an urgent tenderness.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Pitchfork,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Blue Oval is recalling over 140,000 vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Brewers made a series of moves prior to the game, recalling first baseman/outfielder Tyler Black and left-hander Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Self-retracting nozzles are the most hygienic.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The ruthlessness of the producers cutting folk off mid-speech or retracting the microphone and upping the music volume was belittling to those on stage.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After backing out of an agreement to trade first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for Crosby, DeCosta was decried as dishonorable, dirty and duplicitous, especially after Baltimore signed another accomplished edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson, to a free-agent deal the following day.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators say Horner accidentally struck the child with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway.—
Amelia Mugavero,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country's immigration law and say denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Yet there’s no denying that Renny Harlin, in his utilitarian action-hack way, has some chops.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Larsen, meanwhile, isn’t backing down.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The Senators aren’t backing down in the face of playing Carolina, seeking to build off losing to Toronto in six games in the first round last year.—
John Wawrow,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Social Security Administration’s actuaries have found repealing the retirement earnings test will ultimately reduce trust fund costs, Adcock said.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
-
That showed again how poorly the Legislature served the voters by repealing Florida’s runoff primary 21 years ago.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reneging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reneging. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
