WAIVE Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'waive' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of waive are abandon , relinquish , resign , surrender , and yield . While all these words mean "to give up completely," waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion. // waived the right to a trial by jury

Q: When is it sensible to use 'abandon' instead of 'waive'?

The synonyms abandon and waive are sometimes interchangeable, but abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up. // abandoned all hope

Q: When is 'relinquish' a more appropriate choice than 'waive'?

The words relinquish and waive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness. // relinquished her crown

Q: When might 'resign' be a better fit than 'waive'?

In some situations, the words resign and waive are roughly equivalent. However, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle. // resigned her position

Q: When could 'surrender' be used to replace 'waive'?

While the synonyms surrender and waive are close in meaning, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist. // surrendered their claims

Q: Where would 'yield' be a reasonable alternative to 'waive'?

The words yield and waive can be used in similar contexts, but yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force. // the troops yielded ground grudgingly

waive

verb

Definition of waive next

as in to deny

to officially say that you will not use or require something that you are allowed to have or that is usually required She waived her right to a lawyer. The university waives the application fee for low-income students.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word waive different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of waive are abandon, relinquish, resign, surrender, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

When is it sensible to use abandon instead of waive?

The synonyms abandon and waive are sometimes interchangeable, but abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When is relinquish a more appropriate choice than waive?

The words relinquish and waive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When might resign be a better fit than waive?

In some situations, the words resign and waive are roughly equivalent. However, resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When could surrender be used to replace waive?

While the synonyms surrender and waive are close in meaning, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would yield be a reasonable alternative to waive?

The words yield and waive can be used in similar contexts, but yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of waive The suspect waived his presence at his first hearing in juvenile court on Tuesday, according to his public defense attorneys. —

Nicole Chavez, CNN, 22 Oct. 2024 The Warriors are waiving Kevin Knox II, sources told this news organization, giving the wing a chance to latch on with another team or pursue opportunities elsewhere. —

Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024 The commission is already divided on how to address affordable housing; Republicans have pulled back funding for the issue and shut down a program that waived impact fees for developers. —

Yacob Reyes, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024 He was flipped to the Atlanta Hawks and then to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the summer of 2023, before ultimately being waived. —

Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for waive