renege

Imagine you make a deal with a friend: you will help them move, and they will bake you cookies. If you suddenly decide not to help without a good reason, you have *reneged* on the agreement. It means you went back on a promise or failed to do what you said you would do. It often suggests that the person was not reliable or fair. You might also hear it in financial situations, such as when someone fails to keep the terms of a loan agreement.

The word has a slightly serious feel and often suggests more than simply changing your mind. Think of someone breaking an oath, backing away from a deal, or failing to keep a campaign promise. In each case, the idea is the same: a promise was made, and then not honored.

To *renege means to go back on a promise, commitment, or agreement—often unexpectedly and with negative consequences. It implies a deliberate act of failing to fulfill an obligation, suggesting a lack of integrity or reliability. The word comes from the Old French renegier, derived from the Latin renegare*, meaning "to deny" or "reject."

You might say someone *reneged on a deal if they promised to sell you something at a certain price and then tried to raise it later. Or perhaps a politician reneged* on their pledge to lower taxes. It's stronger than simply breaking a promise; it carries the weight of betrayal or disappointment.

While often used in everyday conversations about broken promises, "renege" is frequently found in legal or financial contexts. For example, a borrower might *renege on a loan by defaulting on payments. A company could renege* on a contract if they fail to deliver goods as agreed. You will also encounter the word in the world of card games, where to "renege" specifically means to fail to follow suit when a player is able to do so.

The act of reneging often damages trust and can lead to conflict. It's not just about changing your mind; it's about failing to honor a commitment you made, leaving the other party feeling let down or harmed. So, be careful when making promises—because to *renege* is to break faith and potentially damage relationships.