Definition

1. Verb:
   • To deny or renounce something formally or solemnly: To refuse to accept or acknowledge something, often a belief, right, or responsibility.
   • To surrender or relinquish power, a position, or authority: To give up control or a formal role voluntarily.
   • To deny oneself something; to practice self-denial: To refrain from indulging in a pleasure or possessing something, often for moral or religious reasons.

Usage and Examples

• To deny or renounce:
  • The hermit chose to abnegate all worldly possessions.
  • They were forced to abnegate their former allegiances.
• To surrender power or a position:
  • The council requested the monarch to abnegate the throne.
  • He abnegated his leadership role to focus on his family.
• To deny oneself; to practice self-denial:
  • During the fast, she abnegated all solid food.
  • He abnegates luxury, preferring a simple life.

Advanced Usage

• "To abnegate responsibility": To formally refuse to accept a duty or obligation.
  • The official attempted to abnegate responsibility for the project's failure.
• Used in formal, literary, or religious contexts to describe a complete and often principled rejection or surrender.

Variants and Related Words

• Abnegation (noun): The act of abnegating; self-denial or renunciation.
  • His life was one of complete abnegation and service.
• Self-abnegation (noun): The act of denying one's own interests or desires; extreme self-sacrifice.
  • Her self-abnegation was admired by all who knew her.

Synonyms

• Renounce: To give up formally.
• Relinquish: To voluntarily let go of something.
• Abdicate: To formally give up a throne or high office (specific to power/position).
• Forgo: To go without, to deny oneself.

Antonyms

• Claim: To assert one's right to something.
• Indulge: To allow oneself to enjoy a pleasure.
• Assert: To state a right or opinion forcefully.
• Retain: To continue to have or hold.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "A vow of abnegation": A solemn promise to renounce worldly things, common in religious contexts.
  • The monk took a vow of poverty and abnegation.
• While "abnegate" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verbs, its noun form appears in set phrases like "spirit of abnegation" denoting a principle of self-sacrifice.

Verb

1. deny or renounce
   • They abnegated their gods
2. surrender (power or a position)
   • The King abnegated his power to the ministers
3. deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure
   • She denied herself wine and spirits