Repudiate

rih-PYOO-dee-ate

Definition

(verb) To reject, deny, or disown something, especially publicly or formally.

Example

She publicly repudiated the rumors that had been circulating online.

Fun Fact

Repudiate has a sharp tone, often used in legal, political, and personal crises—from leaders distancing themselves from policies to celebrities denying rumors. It carries more weight than “disagree” or “criticize”—it’s a total severance. The word originally referred to rejecting a spouse or family member in Roman law. Today, it’s often about drawing a hard line and making sure people know where you stand.

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