Repudiatory

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing an action or statement that constitutes a clear rejection or refusal to be bound by an agreement or obligation
2. Characterizing a declaration or act that represents an explicit denial of commitment to a contract or duty
3. Pertaining to a formal action or remark that conveys a definitive refusal to accept responsibility or obligation

Etymology: "Repudiatory" is a plain formation: the adjective "repudiate" with the suffix "-ory" attached, which turns a verb into an adjective meaning "serving to" or "relating to" the action named. A repudiatory statement is one that serves to repudiate, that is, to reject something outright. The root "repudiate" comes from Latin "repudiare," meaning to cast off or divorce, built from "re-" (back, away) and "pudium" (a sense of shame or dishonor, related to "pudor"). In Roman usage it was closely tied to ending a marriage or betrothal, which explains why the verb kept a strong sense of formally casting something aside.

Synonyms: disavowing, rejecting

Antonyms: accepting, embracing