apostatize

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: a=pos=ta=tize

CIDE DICTIONARY

apostatize, v. i. [LL. apostatizare.].

 To renounce totally a religious belief once professed; to forsake one's church, the faith or principles once held, or the party to which one has previously adhered.  [1913 Webster]
"He apostatized from his old faith in facts, took to believing in "  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

apostatize, v.intr. (also -ise) renounce a former belief, adherence, etc.

Etymology

med.L apostatizare f. apostata: see APOSTATE

THESAURUS

apostatize

apostacize, betray, bolt, break away, change sides, defect, degenerate, desert, fall away, fall off, go over, let down, pull out, rat, renegade, renege, renounce, repudiate, run out on, secede, sell out, switch, switch over, tergiversate, turn, turn against, turn cloak, turn traitor

ROGET THESAURUS

apostatize

Tergiversation

VB change one's mind, change one's intention, change one's purpose, change one's note, abjure, renounce, withdraw from, waver, vacillate, wheel round, turn round, veer round, turn a pirouette, go over from one side to another, pass from one side to another, change from one side to another, skip from one side to another, go to the rightabout, box the compass, shift one's ground, go upon another tack, apostatize, change sides, go over, rat, recant, retract, revoke, rescind, recall, forswear, unsay, come over, come round to an opinion, crawfish, crawl, draw in one's horns, eat one's words, eat the leek, swallow the leek, swerve, flinch, back out of, retrace one's steps, think better of it, come back return to one's first love, turn over a new leaf, trim, shuffle, play fast and loose, blow hot and cold, coquet, be on the fence, straddle, bold with the hare but run with the hounds, nager entre deux eaux, wait to see how the cat jumps, wait to see how the wind blows.