Synonyms of disown

disown

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈōn 

1

as in to deny

to declare not to be true

he steadfastly disowned that he was having an affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acknowledge
• allow
• own
• admit
• confirm
• accept
• adopt
• concede
• embrace
• maintain
• declare
• assert
• submit
• claim
• affirm
• avow
• 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 dictatorial father angrily disowned his rebellious son

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disown

Glen Powell plays a charming guy disowned by his wealthy family when he was born. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2026

When Mary won’t give up the baby, she’s disowned by patriarch Whitelaw (Ed Harris) and exiled to New Jersey from her family’s palatial Long Island estate. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026

Becket is broke, disowned and circling a family fortune that never wanted him. — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

They may be cut off from financial resources, disowned, or stripped of personal property and communal safety nets. — Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026