divest

This term carries a strong sense of stripping away or shedding, whether the object is a physical garment, a legal right, or a financial asset. It often implies a formal or deliberate action of removal, contrasting with the passive loss of something. In legal or corporate settings, it describes the forced or strategic removal of power or ownership to prevent monopolies or reduce risk. When used reflexively as divest oneself of, the word shifts toward a personal liberation or a conscious decision to abandon a habit, role, or piece of clothing. This usage evokes an image of shedding a layer to reveal a simpler or different state of being.