abdicate[verb]Synonyms: give up, abandon, quit, relinquish, renounce, resign, step down
(informal)
Antonyms: assume, usurp
Contrasted words: appropriate, arrogate, confiscate, grab, seize, take over, wrest, keep, retain, treasure
Related Words: abandon,
leave,
relinquish,
surrender,
drop,
withdraw [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
ab‧di‧cate /ˈæbdɪkeɪt/
verb [intransitive and transitive][
Date: 1500-1600;
Language: Latin;
Origin: past participle of abdicare, from ab- 'away, off' + dicare 'to say publicly']
1. to give up the position of being king or queen:
King Alfonso XIII abdicated in favour of his eldest son. The king was forced to abdicate the throne.2. abdicate (your) responsibility formal to refuse to be responsible for something, when you should be or were before:
The government has largely abdicated its responsibility in dealing with housing needs.—abdication /ˌæbdəˈkeɪʃ
ən, ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃ
ən/
noun [uncountable and countable] [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲