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
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 disavowing
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
There was an answer to that when Clivillés posted upset messages Thursday, disavowing Williams and showing some clear resentment there.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 May 2026
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
Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026
There was an answer to that when Clivillés posted upset messages Thursday, disavowing Williams and showing some clear resentment there.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 28 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disavowing
Verb
-
There’s no denying the enduring glamour of this grande dame, whose secluded locale at the tip of the Cap is as much a draw for the jet set as the intimate cabanas where Greta Garbo once retreated and the saltwater infinity pool carved into the cliffs.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
-
There’s no denying that the Sym TTLBT competes in the premium maxi-scooter segment against the likes of the Kymco AK 550i, Yamaha TMax, and the Honda Forza 750.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 13,
New Atlas,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
And of course there will always be readers who balk at SF, refusing to countenance that our lived reality is saturated with it, and that the time for earnestly realistic state-of-the-nation novels may have passed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
But Campbell has a point; legally, those trying to ban the Red Raiders from the playoff, or refusing, en masse, to schedule them, could be subject to accusations of collusion.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Anne Hathaway is refuting online speculation over whether she's had a facelift.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
-
King’s break with Johnson was not about refuting his historic contributions.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
In social services, the Legislature is rejecting a cut by the governor to popular in-home supportive service care funding for Californians with disabilities — including older adults and children.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
Cornyn then doubled down, rejecting the premise that procedural effort can substitute for votes and escalating his criticism of Republican messaging.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disavowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disavowing. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
