DISAVOW Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

disavow

verb

ˌdis-ə-ˈvau̇

Definition of disavow

as in to deny

to declare not to be true disavowed the testimony that she had given earlier in the trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to refuse

to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility the government will disavow any knowledge of your mission

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of disavow After initially resisting calls to disavow the material, Irving later apologized, and the Brooklyn Nets suspended him for at least five games without pay. — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 Sep. 2026 El-Sayed sought to distance himself from the controversy, calling antisemitism a scourge and saying Piker does not speak for the campaign, but not disavowing Piker himself. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026 When asked about Piker at a meeting with a group of Jewish Democrats on Saturday, though, El-Sayed declined to disavow him. — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026 Many politicians disavowed or walked back their anti-police stances from the aftermath of Floyd’s death. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disavow

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disavow

Verb

Russian forces are also trying to choke shipping in Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, denying Kyiv vital grain export revenue.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Now that the eleventh-hour challenge was denied, Paramount CEO David Ellison can move forward with closing the merger as planned.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of deny

Verb

However, in July, Wayne released a message refuting reports of an engagement, referring to a relationship with someone in the past tense, albeit without mentioning them by name.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2026
And Brashares’ own wedding dress story doesn’t exactly refute that feeling.

— Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of refute

Verb

But Moscow has rejected a ceasefire, saying a comprehensive peace deal must be agreed rather than a temporary truce.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
The groups behind the #BlockTheMerger coalition, which had amassed more than 5,700 signatories from actors, filmmakers and industry workers opposed to the deal, filed a brief with the court urging Martínez-Olguín to reject the settlement.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of reject

Browse Nearby Words

disastrously

disavow

disavowal

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Disavow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disavow. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of disavow

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Luddite

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes