reneged upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"reneged upon" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to go back on a promise or agreement, or to fail to fulfill an obligation or commitment. You can use this phrase in a variety of contexts, such as business agreements, personal promises, or political situations. Example: "The company reneged upon their promise to increase employee benefits, causing outrage among the workers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Well, suddenly all those contracts were reneged upon.

Cornell University

Not long after the brand left the American market in 1995, its return was rumored, promised and reneged upon.

The New York Times

Kraft, too, made promises, including at least one that it reneged upon, to appease British politicians worried about Cadbury jobs.

The New York Times

The three wise men from England, seeking votes ahead of Christmas for their bid, claim they were promised votes that were reneged upon.

The New York Times - Sports

This is the stark proposition of the title, and the ways in which it is respected or reneged upon defines the film's action.

The Guardian - Film

If the Sudanese regime's track record is anything to go by – with dozens of agreements reneged upon – progress will not be easy to achieve.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

If Johnson's writings are worth reading, it is not for his policy proposals, any of which he could renege upon before breakfast, but for such intriguing "what ifs" – the counterfactual history of Britain.

The Guardian

Proponents of the agreement are therefore hoping for a quick process of ratification by as many parties as possible, including EU member states, which would bring the agreement into immediate effect and make it much harder for countries to renege upon afterwards.

The Guardian

A student who continues a job search after acceptance and/or reneges upon an accepted offer for another opportunity may be subject to disciplinary action.

Duke University

This inability to tie its own hands presents the Bank with a conundrum - how to convince markets today to believe promises that in the future it may be strongly tempted to renege upon.

BBC

Since we are not likely to renege upon our best, most worked-out scientific accounts, it is the ultimate viability of the reason explanations from commonsense 'vernacular' psychology that appear to be threatened.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, ensure the subject and verb agree in tense and number. For example, use 'he reneged upon' instead of 'he renege upon'.

Common error

Avoid substituting "upon" with other prepositions like "on" or omitting it altogether, as this alters the phrase's conventional usage and may sound awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reneged upon" functions as a verb phrase, typically following a subject to indicate that the subject has failed to honor a commitment or promise. Ludwig's AI confirms this usage, aligning with examples where it describes broken agreements or unfulfilled obligations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reneged upon" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe the act of breaking a promise or failing to fulfill an agreement. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is prevalent across various contexts, particularly in news and media, and it carries a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, be mindful of the subject-verb agreement and avoid incorrect preposition substitutions. Consider alternatives like "gone back on" or "failed to honor" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Overall, "reneged upon" is a valuable tool for expressing disappointment or criticism when commitments are broken.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reneged on

A very similar alternative, just without the 'upon'.

gone back on

Focuses on the action of reversing a decision or promise.

failed to honor

Emphasizes the omission of fulfilling a commitment.

defaulted on

Highlights the inability to meet a financial or contractual obligation.

retracted

Implies a formal withdrawal of a statement or offer.

withdrew from

Indicates pulling out of an agreement or commitment.

broken

A simple way to state that a promise was not kept.

disavowed

Suggests a formal denial or rejection of something previously supported.

repudiated

Implies a strong and formal rejection of a previous agreement or association.

nullified

Focuses on the act of making something legally void or ineffective.

FAQs

How can I use "reneged upon" in a sentence?

You can use "reneged upon" to describe someone or something that has failed to fulfill a promise or agreement. For example, "The company "reneged upon" its commitment to environmental protection".

What are some alternatives to "reneged upon"?

You can use alternatives like "gone back on", "failed to honor", or "defaulted on" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "reneged on" or "reneged upon"?

Both "reneged on" and "reneged upon" are acceptable, but "reneged upon" adds a slightly more formal tone. The choice depends on the desired level of formality in your writing.

What's the difference between "reneged upon" and "retracted"?

"Reneged upon" implies breaking a promise or agreement, while "retracted" means to withdraw a statement or offer. "Renege upon" is about actions, whereas "retracted" is about words.