mengingkari

Mengingkari is an Indonesian verb meaning to deny, refute, or go back on a commitment, oath, or statement. It is used to describe acts of not fulfilling promises, obligations, or stated claims, and can also apply to denying a fact or assertion in formal or public discourse. The term often carries a moral or ethical evaluation, especially when a duty or expectation has been explicitly agreed upon.

The word derives from the root ingkar, which conveys disobedience or non-compliance, with the prefix meng- forming the active verb mengingkari. The related noun pengingkaran denotes the act of denial or repudiation. This family of terms is common in legal, political, and journalistic contexts, where precision about obligation and accountability matters.

Usage and nuance: mengingkari tends to imply a deliberate breach or refusal to honor a commitment or stated belief. It is frequently paired with janji (promise) or sumpah (oath): mengingkari janji, mengingkari sumpah. It can also describe denying a claim or overturning a stated position, but it remains distinctly tied to failing to meet an obligation or assertion previously accepted or asserted.

Relation to other terms: related verbs include menyangkal (to deny the truth or to dispute), membantah (to refute), and menolak (to reject). The opposite of mengingkari is menepati (to fulfil) or memenuhi (to satisfy) a commitment. See also pengingkaran (the act of denial or repudiation).

Examples: Dia mengingkari janji pembayaran tersebut. Pemerintah mengingkari sumpah jabatan mereka.