Renegade (rn-gd), n.
Etymology: [Sp. renegado, LL. renegatus, fr. renegare to deny; L. pref. re- re- + negare to deny. See Negation, and cf. Runagate.]
One faithless to principle or party. Specifically: (a) An apostate from Christianity or from any form of religious faith. James justly regarded these renegades as the most serviceable tools that he could employ. Macaulay.
(b) One who deserts from a military or naval post; a deserter. Arbuthnot. (c) A common vagabond; a worthless or wicked fellow.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists renegade only as an antonym, under adherent.
Where he writes about it:
The antonyms apostate, pervert, and renegade are condemnatory names applied to the convert by those whose faith he forsakes. — from convert
Synonyms
none given