Synonyms of disavow

disavow

verb

ˌdis-ə-ˈvau̇ 

1

as in to deny

to declare not to be true

disavowed the testimony that she had given earlier in the trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deny
• refute
• reject
• contradict
• repudiate
• disclaim
• disallow
• disown
• negate
• disaffirm
• gainsay
• negative
• disconfirm
• traverse
• disprove
• rebut
• challenge
• disagree (with)
• dispute
• confute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acknowledge
• confirm
• allow
• admit
• accept
• own
• concede
• adopt
• embrace
• submit
• maintain
• claim
• assert
• affirm
• avow
• declare
• announce
• profess
• verify
• espouse
• validate
• substantiate
• aver
• corroborate
• authenticate

2

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

• deny
• refuse
• disown
• refute
• disclaim
• repudiate
• reject
• criticize
• contradict
• disallow
• disprove
• wash one's hands of
• gainsay
• renounce
• negate
• question
• retract
• rebut
• confute
• challenge
• recant
• abdicate
• abjure
• negative
• dispute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recognize
• acknowledge
• claim
• accept
• own
• adopt
• embrace
• admit
• grant
• submit
• avow
• concede
• maintain
• confess
• assert
• affirm
• declare
• announce
• confirm
• verify
• espouse
• validate
• substantiate
• profess
• aver
• corroborate
• authenticate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disavow

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Her employer, French sports daily L'Equipe, disavowed the comments and also apologized to Doku in a statement late Sunday, saying the remarks did not represent its values. — CBS News, 24 June 2026

Avila Chevalier also faced racist attacks and false accusations about her ethnicity from a senior advisor to Espaillat, which Mamdani condemned and Espaillat’s campaign disavowed. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 24 June 2026

The administration has since repeatedly disavowed the proposal. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 19 June 2026

The Washington County Board on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution disavowing the past practice of racial covenants and informing the public of their existence in the county. — Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!