Synonyms for apostasy
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Defection — specifically, the renunciation of one's religion or faith
defection, renunciation, backsliding, desertion, disloyalty, disaffection, dereliction, estrangement
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Specifically, the renunciation of one's religion or faith.
Related words
- Word family
- apostasize apostate apostatize
Forms
- Plural
- apostasies → defections, renunciations, backslidings, desertions…
Example sentences
- defection My government continues to treat dissent as defection.
- desertion Twenty six soldiers were executed for desertion.
- renunciation Jesus predicted Peter's renunciation of him.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| apostasy | rising | |
| defection | steady | |
| desertion | falling | |
| renunciation | steady | |
| backsliding | rising | |
| deconversion | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- fall1
- 5 letters
- lapse1
- 9 letters
- defection3, desertion3, recreancy
- 10 letters
- disloyalty4
- 11 letters
- dereliction4, backsliding3
- 12 letters
- renunciation5, estrangement3, disaffection4, deconversion
- 14 letters
- tergiversation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (defection3 = 3 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- apostasie
- Italiano
- apostasia
- Deutsch
- Abtrünnigkeit