apostatize
Renounce one's religion
To apostatize is to abandon a religious faith, political party, or set of principles one formerly held.
The word carries weight—it's not casual disagreement but formal renunciation: He apostatized from the Catholic Church at forty.
Someone who apostatizes is an apostate.
The term appears most often in religious contexts, where leaving the faith may carry serious social or spiritual consequences.
Solemnly reject or recant
- recantFormally withdraw a statement
- repudiateReject as having no authority
- disavowDeny any association
- forsakeAbandon completely
retract · renounce · reject · relinquish · disclaim · disown · abandon · abnegation
One who abandons allegiance
- deserterOne who abandons duty
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- dissenterOpponent of orthodoxy
secede · disaffiliate · decamp · abandon · withdraw · leave · quit · backslide
Belief opposing official doctrine
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- unbeliefLack of faith
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- atheismRejection of deities
agnosticism · irreligion · secularism · freethought · deconversion · disbelief · skepticism · paganism
Deliberate violation of trust
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- treasonBetraying one's nation
double-cross · faithlessness · false · unfaithful · Judas · oath-breaking
Change in form or faith
- proselytizeAdvocate one's beliefs
- revertReturn to earlier condition
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
- catechumenUnbaptized person learning Christianity
abjure
Solemnly reject or recant
- recantFormally withdraw a statement
- repudiateReject as having no authority
- disavowDeny any association
forsake · retract · renounce · reject · relinquish · disclaim · disown · abandon · abnegation · renunciation
defector
One who abandons allegiance
dissenter · secede · disaffiliate · decamp · abandon · withdraw · leave · quit · backslide · lapse
heresy
Belief opposing official doctrine
- blasphemyIrreverence toward the sacred
- unbeliefLack of faith
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
atheism · agnosticism · irreligion · secularism · freethought · deconversion · disbelief · skepticism · paganism · heathenism
treachery
Deliberate violation of trust
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
treason · double-cross · faithlessness · false · unfaithful · Judas · oath-breaking
convert
Change in form or faith
- proselytizeAdvocate one's beliefs
- revertReturn to earlier condition
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
catechumen · reconvert · embrace · adopt · religious conversion
apostatizeconvert
Change in form or faith
take vows · find religion · born again · revert · reconvert
apostatizestay true
Remain loyal, unchanged
keep the faith · stand firm · join · pledge allegiance · persevere