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
-
During Britney Spears’ DUI arrest in Ventura County in March, the pop star, at points, refused to comply with law enforcement, denying being under the influence and offering to make lasagna for officers rather than exit her car, video and reporting released by various outlets Thursday showed.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
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The Copperhead may be named after a different snake than the Viper, but there’s not denying that the two cars share DNA.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Moreover, lawmakers are engaged in budget negotiations, where the House is refusing to fund several of DeSantis’ priorities.—
Gray Rohrer,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
Former Representative Elizabeth Holtzman, one of the co-authors, has portrayed the act as a corrective to the moral failure of refusing entry to many Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Anne Hathaway is refuting online speculation over whether she's had a facelift.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
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King’s break with Johnson was not about refuting his historic contributions.—
Mark Conway,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
Verb
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As Business of Fashion reports, Gen-Z in particular is rejecting mass-market trends in the pursuit of a true personal style, often favoring one of a kind, unique pieces.—
Katherine McLaughlin,
Architectural Digest,
22 May 2026
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School is where some students learn that mercilessly rejecting others is not only permissible but also necessary, to eliminate competition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disavowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disavowing. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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