reneging

USAGE SUMMARY

"reneging" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when someone makes a commitment or agreement and then decides not to follow through on it. For example, "The government reneged on its promise to provide extra funding for the educational system."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Clegg has made Coppard's job easier, not just by reneging on his pledge not to increase tuition fees but by being in the highest echelons of a government that, shortly after its formation in 2010, cancelled a £80m loan to Sheffield Forgemasters, which the steel company had hoped to use to buy a new forging press for producing nuclear plant components, creating jobs.

The Guardian

"However, the DUP have acted in bad faith and are now reneging on their commitments to protect the most vulnerable.

The Guardian

Scotland would pay a price internationally Facebook Twitter Google plus Share Share this post Facebook Twitter Google plus close 2.37pm BST14:37 Q: Are there any more risks associated with Scotland reneging on its debts?

The Guardian

The DUP minister Mervyn Storey accused Sinn Féin and the SDLP of reneging on the cross-party Stormont house agreement made in December when it appeared there was a consensus on tackling welfare.

The Guardian

Either Tsipras betrays his own ideology to deter default – reneging on promises that got him into power – or he goes down as the man who allowed his country to do what no other EU member has done: enter the uncharted waters of euro exit.

The Guardian

In Berlin, the finance minister's obsession with paying down debts (bizarre when German infrastructure is falling apart) was on display again and gave a further clue that he will not tolerate Greece reneging on its own borrowing.

The Guardian - Business

The prime minister's intervention prompted immediate cries from the SNP that he was reneging on "the Vow", issued by the leaders of the three main UK parties, during the campaign.

The Guardian

The general impression is that the damage is done, and they will not be forgiven for reneging on the issue of tuition fees, not to say going along with so much of the Conservatives' misconceived austerity programme.

The Guardian

Before the risky step of a tax hike, says Yasuhisa Shiozaki, policy chief for the LDP, it was politically wise for him to show that he had considered his options extremely carefully.In part, Mr Abe may have wielded the possibility of reneging on the tax rise as a way to extract more money for his stimulus package from the conservative finance ministry.

The Economist

He pledged to control the government's finances and honour its heavy debts—instead of reneging on them as he once proposed.

The Economist

Germany's constitution forbids retroactively reneging on promises already made.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reneging" to describe a deliberate decision to not fulfill a previously made agreement or promise. It implies a degree of bad faith or at least a change of heart.

Common error

Don't use "reneging" when someone simply regrets a promise they made. "Reneging" implies a conscious decision to break the promise, not just wishing they hadn't made it.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reneging" is as a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses or as a gerund. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes the act of breaking a promise or agreement. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its use in diverse sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reneging" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, as supported by Ludwig AI and numerous real-world examples. It serves to denote the act of breaking a promise or agreement, often carrying a negative connotation. While adaptable for diverse registers, it's especially frequent in business and news contexts. Remember to avoid using "reneging" when the subject simply regrets a promise, and instead, use it when they consciously decide not to follow through.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reneging on a deal

Similar, but specifically refers to deals.

backing out of

Emphasizes the action of withdrawing from an agreement or commitment.

going back on one's word

Highlights the broken promise aspect.

failing to honor

Focuses on the omission of fulfilling an obligation.

not keeping one's end of the bargain

Highlights failure to uphold a specific agreement.

breaching an agreement

Indicates a violation of a formal or legal understanding.

withdrawing from a commitment

Emphasizes the act of pulling back from a pledge.

disavowing a promise

Highlights the act of denying or rejecting a previous assurance.

violating an undertaking

Focuses on the violation of a duty or obligation.

repudiating an obligation

Indicates a formal rejection of a duty or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "reneging" in a sentence?

You can use "reneging" to describe someone failing to fulfill a promise or agreement. For example, "The company was accused of "reneging on" its contract."

What's a synonym for "reneging"?

Synonyms for "reneging" include "backing out", "going back on one's word", or "failing to honor" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "reneging" in formal writing?

Yes, "reneging" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in business or legal contexts when discussing broken agreements or unfulfilled obligations.

What's the difference between "reneging" and "reconsidering"?

"Reneging" implies a decision not to follow through on a commitment, while "reconsidering" simply means to think about something again, without necessarily breaking a promise.