Renounce vs Denounce
What’s the difference between them?
Renounce
Meaning:
To give up, reject, or disown (a belief, cause, or claim).
Examples:
1. He renounced his citizenship as a sign of protest against the country's oppressive policies.
2. The cult leader asked all members to renounce their former beliefs in order to join his group.
3. She renounced her previous opinions and accepted the truth of his argument.
Denounce
Meaning:
To publicly declare something or someone to be wrong, immoral, or bad.
Examples:
1. In her speech to the nation, the President denounced the act of violence.
2. The group denounced the company's unethical practices.
3. The mayor publicly denounced the new law.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Renounce
1. Relinquish
2. Resign
3. Abjure
4. Forswear
5. Give up/Abandon
1. Accept
2. Embrace
3. Affirm
4. Uphold
5. Endorse
Denounce
1. Condemn
2. Reprove
3. Reprobate
4. Censure
5. Speak out against
1. Praise
2. Affirm
3. Uphold
4. Support
5. Endorse
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Renounce", "Denounce".
1. Renounce means to reject something (ideas, beliefs, or opinions).
2. Denounce means to strongly criticize something or someone publicly.
3. When you renounce something, you are rejecting it. When you denounce something, you are speaking out against it.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
'Renounce' should be used in contexts where an individual is choosing to formally give up, reject, or distance themselves from a belief, claim, title, or possession. For example, someone might renounce their citizenship or renounce their inheritance rights.
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
'Denounce' is appropriate in situations where someone wants to publicly condemn or express disapproval of an action, behavior, belief, or individual. This is usually done on moral, ethical, or correctness grounds. For instance, a politician might denounce violence during a protest or a religious leader might denounce certain immoral behaviors.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, while they sound similar, they have distinct pronunciations. 'Renounce' is pronounced as /rɪˈnaʊns/ while 'Denounce' is pronounced as /dɪˈnaʊns/.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
Because of their phonetic and semantic similarities, people might mistakenly use 'renounce' when they mean to condemn publicly (which is 'denounce') and vice versSome people might think both words only relate to beliefs or ideas, without realizing that 'renounce' can also refer to more tangible things like titles or possessions. In situations where someone might be expressing personal disavowal, they might incorrectly use 'denounce' when 'renounce' would be more fitting. Another mistake could be in pronunciation, especially for non-native speakers, given the slight difference in the starting sounds of the two words.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. The politician was publicly ___________ for her role in the scandal.
2. The people ____________ their allegiance to the king in an act of civil disobedience.
3. His attorney urged him to ___________ any involvement in the crime.
4. The people were eager to ___________ the injustices that had been committed.
5. Our country must ____________ the unconstitutional laws passed by the new regime.
6. His speech was filled with fiery ____________ of the oppressive government.
1. Denounce
Explanation: Denounce means to condemn or to criticize someone or something publicly. In this case, the politician was criticized for her role in the scandal.
2. Renounced
Explanation: Renounce means to reject something or to give up ones allegiance to something. In this case, the people rejected their allegiance to the king.
3. Renounce
Explanation: Renounce means to reject something or to give up ones involvement in something. In this case, the attorney is urging him to reject any involvement in the crime.
4. Denounce
Explanation: Denounce means to condemn or to criticize something publicly. In this case, the people were eager to criticize the injustices that had been committed.
5. Renounce
Explanation: Renounce means to reject something or to give up ones allegiance to something. In this case, the country is rejecting the unconstitutional laws passed by the new regime.
6. Denounce
Explanation: Denounce means to condemn or to criticize something publicly. In this case, his speech was filled with fiery criticism of the oppressive government.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.