Question:
A person who renounces religious or political belief or principle is called ..............
A person who renounces religious or political belief or principle is called ..............
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Use roots to decode meanings quickly: \textbf{apo} (away) + \textbf{stance/state} (standing) → standing away from a former belief → \textbf{apostate}; contrast with \textbf{apostle} (supporter) to avoid traps.
Updated On: Aug 14, 2025
- Antiquarian
- Ascetic
- Apostle
- Apostate
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
We need the one-word substitution for someone who abandons or renounces a previously held religious or political belief.
The correct word is apostate.
Etymology helps confirm meaning — the prefix apo- means away from and the root related to state/stance implies one’s position or standing, so an apostate is one who stands away from their former creed.
Eliminate distractors carefully:
Antiquarian — a person who studies or collects antiques or ancient items, not connected to renouncing beliefs.
Ascetic — a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence for spiritual goals; they may keep or even strengthen beliefs rather than renounce them.
Apostle — a zealous advocate or leading early follower, especially of a religious leader; this is the semantic opposite of abandoning belief.
Only apostate precisely captures renunciation of a former doctrine, which matches the definition in the stem.
Therefore, the correct choice is apostate.
The correct word is apostate.
Etymology helps confirm meaning — the prefix apo- means away from and the root related to state/stance implies one’s position or standing, so an apostate is one who stands away from their former creed.
Eliminate distractors carefully:
Antiquarian — a person who studies or collects antiques or ancient items, not connected to renouncing beliefs.
Ascetic — a person who practices severe self-discipline and abstention from indulgence for spiritual goals; they may keep or even strengthen beliefs rather than renounce them.
Apostle — a zealous advocate or leading early follower, especially of a religious leader; this is the semantic opposite of abandoning belief.
Only apostate precisely captures renunciation of a former doctrine, which matches the definition in the stem.
Therefore, the correct choice is apostate.
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