forsake

[fawr-seyk] / fɔrˈseɪk /

VERB

abandon, turn one's back on

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disown forgo forswear jettison quit relinquish renounce repudiate set aside spurn

STRONG

abdicate desert disclaim jilt leave resign surrender yield

WEAK

cast off change one's tune drift away give up have done with kiss goodbye leave flat leave high and dry run out on show the door take the oath throw over walk out on wash one's hands of

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow approve continue keep

STRONG

claim hold maintain

WEAK

go back rediscover return revert

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Iran's governing football body has accused Australia of kidnapping the players and forcing them to forsake their home nation against their will.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

I can’t be the only 57-year-old who would forsake both for six uninterrupted hours.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

The teaching that God will “never leave or forsake you” is found multiple times in the Bible.

From Salon • Jan. 12, 2024

"Children with their big wide-open eyes question us. Their looks should help us to forsake selfishness that undoubtedly leaves our hearts quite bare," she wrote in its introduction.

From Reuters • Jan. 16, 2023

I sang it over and over and the stars came out — “Do not forsake me, my sister, my sheep, Slumber ye gently and heal in thy sleep.”

From "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schlitz

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