Meaning & use
abnegating
Last updated
“abnegating” is a form of “abnegate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitiveformal
Giving up something you want or enjoy, especially for moral or religious reasons.
Grammar: Used as the -ing form of 'abnegate'; it takes an object: abnegating pleasure.
Patterns
- abnegating something
- abnegating oneself
The monk lived a life of abnegating all earthly comforts.
She kept abnegating her own needs to care for her brother.
verbtransitiveformal
Refusing to accept or admit something, such as responsibility or a belief.
Grammar: Also transitive; often used with abstract nouns like 'responsibility' or 'authority'.
Patterns
- abnegating responsibility
- abnegating authority
The manager was accused of abnegating his responsibility for the mistake.
By abnegating the treaty, the government angered its allies.
Word forms
| third person singular | abnegates |
|---|---|
| past tense | abnegated |
| past participle | abnegated |
| -ing form | abnegating |
Common combinations
- abnegating oneself
- He spoke of abnegating oneself for the good of the community.
- abnegating pleasure
- Their faith involved abnegating pleasure of all kinds.
- abnegating responsibility
- The board was criticized for abnegating responsibility.
Synonyms and how they differ
- renouncing
- More common and slightly less extreme; it means formally giving up a claim or practice.
- sacrificing
- Focuses on giving up something valuable, often for a practical goal rather than a moral ideal.
- forgoing
- Neutral and everyday; it means doing without something you could have had.
Opposites
Word family
- abnegation noun
- The act of giving up your own desires or refusing something.
- abnegator noun
- A person who practices self-denial.
Commonly confused: abnegating or abnegate vs abdicate?
abnegating vs abnegate vs abdicate
'Abdicate' means to give up a throne or a duty; 'abnegate' is about giving up desires or refusing something.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'abnegating' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Abnegating' means giving up something desirable, so 'abnegating his own comfort' fits. Option 1 is wrong because drinking water does not give up thirst; option 2 should be 'abdicating'; option 3 is nonsense because doors are not given up in this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “abnegating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.