1
as in denying
to declare not to be true
disavowed the testimony that she had given earlier in the trial
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refusing
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
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Recent Examples of disavowing
Activist groups seeking to pause or slow the development of AI are disavowing violence after a person with strong anti-AI views was accused of attacking Sam Altman’s San Francisco residence with a Molotov cocktail Friday.
—
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
When pressed on disavowing Piker’s controversial comments, El Sayed declined to distance himself from Piker.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
Pins disavowing the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protesters (that featured the outline of Iran with a ribbon) were passed out to attendees of the Academy Awards luncheon in February, and could possibly appear on the Oscars carpet.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
This is all linked to amnesty and disavowing violence if Hamas people want to stay there.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025
Some Republicans have no problem strongly disavowing the sentiment and calling for the members of the group to resign their positions.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 17 Oct. 2025
The network's president, Rebecca Kutler, subsequently released a statement disavowing Dowd's view.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
Since his primary victory, Mamdani has sought to broaden his political tent a bit by disavowing some of his past rhetoric that became fodder for his political opponents during the primary.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
In 2022, police showed up at his workplace and required him to sign a document renouncing his faith in Christianity and disavowing church participation.
—Ko Lyn Cheang, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 July 2025
Jared Perlo, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
When pressed on disavowing Piker’s controversial comments, El Sayed declined to distance himself from Piker.
—Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 8 Apr. 2026
Pins disavowing the Iranian regime’s crackdown on protesters (that featured the outline of Iran with a ribbon) were passed out to attendees of the Academy Awards luncheon in February, and could possibly appear on the Oscars carpet.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
This is all linked to amnesty and disavowing violence if Hamas people want to stay there.
—Mariam Khan, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2025
Some Republicans have no problem strongly disavowing the sentiment and calling for the members of the group to resign their positions.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 17 Oct. 2025
The network's president, Rebecca Kutler, subsequently released a statement disavowing Dowd's view.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025
Since his primary victory, Mamdani has sought to broaden his political tent a bit by disavowing some of his past rhetoric that became fodder for his political opponents during the primary.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2025
In 2022, police showed up at his workplace and required him to sign a document renouncing his faith in Christianity and disavowing church participation.
—Ko Lyn Cheang, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disavowing
Verb
-
Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country's immigration law and say denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Yet there’s no denying that Renny Harlin, in his utilitarian action-hack way, has some chops.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Each time, Banchero was at the center of it, creating offense, absorbing contact and refusing to let the game slip entirely out of reach.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
His process of doing so involved disparaging his accusers, browbeating people and institutions that no longer wanted to be associated with him, and refusing to accept a path that precluded a return to being a public figure.—
Elizabeth Spiers,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s not refuting the secrecy.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
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Amidst the other claims, this one has hit hard at Beast Industries, and the company got quite personal in refuting it.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means rejecting violent rhetoric, rejecting conspiracy theories and rejecting the impulse to use these moments for political gain.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Rescue sparks debate in country Officials in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania said their strategy had focused on minimizing stress for the animal, rejecting public calls for the whale to be euthanized to end its suffering.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disavowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disavowing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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