disavow

dis·avow

transitive verb \ˌdis-ə-ˈvau̇\

Definition of DISAVOW

1

: to deny responsibility for : repudiate

2

: to refuse to acknowledge or accept : disclaim <party leaders disavowed him>

— dis·avow·able \-ə-bəl\ adjective

— dis·avow·al \-ˈvau̇(-ə)l\ noun

Examples of DISAVOW

1. He disavowed the actions of his subordinates.
2. She now seems to be trying to disavow her earlier statements.

Origin of DISAVOW

Middle English desavowen, from Anglo-French desavouer, from des- dis- + avouer to avow

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DISAVOW

Synonyms

contradict, disaffirm, disallow, deny, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, repudiate

Antonyms

acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

Related Words

traverse; challenge, confute, disprove, rebut; disagree (with), dispute

Near Antonyms

accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify

Rhymes with DISAVOW

anyhow, carabao, cat's meow, curaçao, Curaçao, disallow, disendow, here and now, Hu Jintao, Krakatau, middlebrow, Mindanao, sacred cow, simple vow, solemn vow