verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/fə(ɹ)ˈswɛə(ɹ)/
/fɔː(ɹ)ˈswɛə(ɹ)/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛə(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:F AO0 R S W EH1 R
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To renounce or deny something, especially under oath.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
We forswear allegiance and support for the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive, reflexive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: perjure, manswear, misswear
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief, usually under pressure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He retracted his earlier statements about his religion
She abjured her beliefs
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abjure, recant, retract, resile
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: disown, renounce, repudiate
History
Etymology
From Middle English forsweren, from Old English forswerian (“to swear falsely”). Cognate with Old Saxon farswerian, Old High German farsweren, German verschwören. More at for- + swear.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
отричам под клетва
(otričam pod kletva)
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Dutch:
ontkennen
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Dutch:
afzweren
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
French:
nier
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
French:
démentir
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
French:
abjurer
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Galician:
renegar
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
German:
abschwören
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
German:
entschieden bestreiten
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
German:
strikt ablehnen
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
German:
verzichten
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Greek:
επιορκώ
(epiorkó)
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Polish:
wyrzekać się
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Polish:
wyrzec się
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Polish:
wypierać się
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Polish:
wyprzeć się
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Russian:
отрека́ться
(otrekátʹsja)
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Turkish:
yemin etmek
— to renounce or deny something, especially under oath
Bulgarian:
лъжесвидетелствам
(lǎžesvidetelstvam)
— to commit perjury
Dutch:
meineed plegen
— to commit perjury
French:
parjurer
— to commit perjury
German:
Meineid begehen
— to commit perjury
Greek:
ψευδορκώ
(psevdorkó)
— to commit perjury
Māori:
oati teka
— to commit perjury
Polish:
krzywoprzysięgać
— to commit perjury
Polish:
krzywoprzysięgnąć
— to commit perjury
Polish:
krzywoprzysiąc
— to commit perjury
Russian:
лжесвиде́тельствовать
(lžesvidételʹstvovatʹ)
— to commit perjury
Russian:
наруша́ть кля́тву
(narušátʹ kljátvu)
— to commit perjury
Turkish:
yalan yere yemin etmek
— to commit perjury
