break one's word
Fail kept commitment
To break one's word is to fail to keep a promise or commitment.
The phrase treats a person's word as something given—a pledge that can be honored or violated: He broke his word and told everyone the secret.
Someone who breaks their word loses credibility; the opposite is to keep one's word.
- lyingStating known falsehoods
- renegingFailing to keep commitments
- go back onWithdraw from commitment
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- lose facebecome publicly shamed
dishonesty · lie · bad faith · regret · guilt · let someone down · betrayal · stab in the back · breach of trust · mistrust · untrustworthiness · forswear · integrity · accountability · conflict · self-justification · loyalty · breach