To the followers of the Daesh terrorist group, all Muslims are guilty of apostasy because they don't recognize the authority of their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Source: tatoeba (8135990)
Apostasy
/əˈpɔs.tə.si/
Synonyms for "apostasy" (146 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (30)
Noun(5 words)
about faceabout-faceaccommodationadaptationadjustmentagreement to disagreealienationalterationameliorationatheismbackslidingbetrayalbettermentboltbreakbreakawaychangechange of heartchangeablenessconstructive change
Show 5 more words
Strong matches (43)
defectiondegenerationdegenerative changederelictiondeserteddeserterdesertiondeteriorationdeviationdifferencedisaccorddisagreementdisapprobationdisapprovaldiscontinuitydisloyaltydisparitydissatisfactiondissensiondissent
Show 21 more words
dissentiencedissidencedivergencediversificationdiversiondiversitydropping outevangelicalismfaithlessnessfallfall from gracefalsenessfittingflip flopflip-flopgoing overgradual changeheresyimpietyimpiousnessimprovement
Related words (73)
Noun(3 words)
infidelityirreligionirreverencelapselapse from gracemeliorationminority opinionmitigationmodificationmodulationnew theologynonagreementnonassentnonconcurrencenonconformitynonconsentoppositionoverthrowperfidyprotestantism
Show 50 more words
qualificationradical changerattingre creationre-creationrealignmentrecidivationrecidivismrecreancyrecusancerecusancyredesignreformreformationrejectionrelapseremakingrenewalrenunciationrepudiationreshapingrestructuringreversalrevivalrevivificationrevolutionschismsecessionshiftsudden changeswitchtergiversationtotal changetransitiontreacherousnesstreasonturnturnaboutturning traitorundergroundundutifulnessupheavalvariancevariationvarietyviolent changewalkoutwithdrawalworseningzwinglianism
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: defection, renunciation, abandonment, abjuring, about face.
- Sentence evidence is available for apostasy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "apostasy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "apostasy"
Keep "apostasy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "apostasy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "apostasy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "apostasy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
4 entriesChristian apostasyIslamic apostasyideological shiftparty defection
Collocations
6 entriesact of apostasyapostasy lawapostasy ratemass apostasypolitical apostasyreligious apostasy
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
6 entriesSample sentences
6 total sentences available.
Apostasy is a human right.
Source: tatoeba (11083832)
Tom's apostasy will not go unpunished.
Source: tatoeba (11096388)
The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse at the Hall occasioned much speculation in that portion of the world to which Waverley-Honour formed the centre: but the more judicious politicians of this microcosm augured yet worse consequences to Richard Waverley from a movement which shortly followed his apostasy.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "apostasy"?
Closest matches include defection, renunciation, abandonment, abjuring, about face.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "apostasy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.