- Today's Word
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.
(noun) The smallest part or amount imaginable; a tiny bit.
She didn’t care a whit what others thought about her unconventional career choice.
Middle English: probably an alteration of “wight” (meaning creature or thing), used in phrases like “not a wight” meaning “not a creature” or “nothing at all.”