abdicate

verb

1 in 1936, Edward VIII abdicated in favour of George VI:

resign, retire, quit, stand down, step down, bow out, renounce the throne;

archaic demit.

▷antonyms be crowned.

2 Napoleon compelled Ferdinand to abdicate the throne:

resign from, relinquish, renounce, give up, hand over, turn over, deliver up, surrender, vacate, forswear, abjure, cede;

Law disclaim.

▷antonyms accede to.

3 the state virtually abdicated all responsibility for their welfare:

disown, turn down, spurn, reject, renounce, give up, avoid, refuse, abnegate, relinquish, abjure, repudiate, waive, yield, forgo, abandon, surrender, deliver up, disgorge, cast aside, drop, turn one's back on, wash one's hands of;

informal shirk;

archaic forsake.

▷antonyms accept, take on.

abdicate Oxford Dictionary of English