# abnegate

/ˈæbnɪɡˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abnegate
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. to deny oneself something

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to refuse to allow yourself to have something you want.

For teachers: to deny oneself a pleasure or a convenience, often for moral or religious reasons.

- During the fast, he chose to abnegate all luxury foods.
- The monks sought to abnegate all worldly comforts in their pursuit of spiritual purity and mental discipline.

Usage: Often used with a reflexive pronoun (to abnegate oneself) or with a direct object representing the pleasure being denied.

Teaching tip: This sense is closely related to 'self-abnegation'. It is rarely heard in casual conversation.

## Examples

- He decided to abnegate his own comfort to help the family.
- The monk chose to abnegate his former life of luxury in order to live a life of strict discipline.
- By abnegating her own ambitions, she allowed her younger colleagues to rise through the ranks, eventually leading to a more diverse and innovative leadership team.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.