Abdicate vs. Abrogate: Meaning and Usage in a Sentence

Abdicate means to renounce one's own power or position. 

Abrogate means to repeal, revoke, or abolish something (as in a law, right, or contract). 

Both of these words are about eliminating powers, duties, rules, or responsibilities. It is useful to remember that ab- (a Latin prefix) means “away from” and is used in other words such as abstract, abnegate, abolish, and absence.

Abdicate, which means roughly “speak away” in Latin, means to voluntarily give up one’s own power or position of status, such as to give up being a king or dictator (typically) – normally, just by saying so:

The hated dictator abdicated power after many protests.

Abrogate means to abolish, repeal, or give up an official rule or responsibility:

Some say the president has abrogated his duty to protect the American people.

Many people were upset when the president abrogated that treaty.

To summarize, abdicate means “to give up one’s power” and abrogate means “to give up or cancel an obligation”; closely related, but with a clear difference!

More of Examples of How to Use "Abdicate" in a Sentence

1. The king, in his speech, abdicated the throne.
2. The people protested the abdication of their queen
3. She abdicated her duties as a waitress and stood behind the counter.
4. The Prime Minister's plan to abdicate office was publicly criticised.
5. One of the most famous people to have abdicated their throne was Queen Christina of Sweden.
6. Politicians who have been accused of wrongdoing must abdicate their leadership positions.
7. They tried to abdicate their responsibility of caring for their children.
8. She took a long walk and decided it was time to abdicate her position on the board.
9. The Prime Minister abdicated his position after he lost a vote of no confidence.
10. The ruler of the land had to abdicate the throne due to pressure from the people.
11. He was asked to abdicate his duties as a manager, but was not interested in abandoning his position—and its lucrative benefits.
12. The corporation was compelled to abdicate control of the company, but most of the executives clung to their positions.
13. I abdicate my position as ruler of this country.

More of Examples of How to Use "Abrogate" in a Sentence

1. The new law abrogated the old law.
2. The company's board of directors abrogated the agreement.
3. He was abrogating his responsibility by not doing his work.
4. The court abrogated the contract because it was unconscionable.
5. The president vetoed the bill, abrogating the legislation.
6. His insistence on abrogating policy ended up destroying his career.
7. The US Constitution provided for the abrogation of the Articles of Confederation.
8. Some people believe that the President should be allowed to abrogate international treaties unilaterally.
9. To abrogate a contract, one would have to find an escape clause in that contract.
10. The new law abrogates all prior laws, which are no longer valid.
11. He seemed to understand that her response was an attempt to abrogate his authority.
12. The council wants to abrogate the contract with the builder.
13. He abrogated his vows and betrayed his family.
14. He was reluctant to abandon his duties as a parent and abrogate the duties to his wife.
15. He denied the charges, abrogating responsibility for his actions.
16. He quickly abrogated the contract before his reputation could be irrevocably harmed.
17. A group of countries abrogated a trade agreement.
18. The committee has convened to do the work of evaluating the original provision, with the intent to abrogate it.
19. The contract is renewable every 10 years, which means it can be revoked or abrogated by either party periodically.