forswear
Vow to quit
To forswear is to renounce or reject something, often under oath or with solemn resolve: He forswore alcohol after the accident, She forswore all allegiance to the crown.
The word carries a formal, almost archaic weight.
To forswear oneself is to commit perjury—to lie after swearing to tell the truth.
Reject as having no authority
- disavowDeny any association
- recantFormally withdraw a statement
- retractWithdraw something said
- abjureSolemnly reject or recant
disclaim · relinquish · disown · reject · abandon · deny · forsake · eschew
Formally give up
- quitCease doing something
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
relinquish · refrain · avoid · shun · reject · eschew · forgo · sacrifice
Binding promise given
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- promiseCommitment to act
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- swornBound by formal promise
allegiance · fealty · troth · bond · commitment · oath-breaking · perjury · declaration
Deliberate breach of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- faithlessnessDisloyalty or treachery
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
double-cross · backstabbing · treason · deceit · falseness · unfaithfulness · betrayer · traitor
repudiate
Reject as having no authority
abjure · disclaim · relinquish · disown · reject · abandon · deny · forsake · eschew · abnegate
renounce
Formally give up
- quitCease doing something
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
sobriety · relinquish · refrain · avoid · shun · reject · eschew · forgo · sacrifice · self-denial
pledge
Binding promise given
sworn · allegiance · fealty · troth · bond · commitment · oath-breaking · perjury · declaration · affirmation
perfidy
Deliberate breach of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- disloyaltyBreach of allegiance
- faithlessnessDisloyalty or treachery
infidelity · double-cross · backstabbing · treason · deceit · falseness · unfaithfulness · betrayer · traitor · duplicity