1
as in to deny
to declare not to be true
he steadfastly disowned that he was having an affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disown
Maximum Overdrive, the only movie that King directed, is eligible… but King himself joined the chorus of harsh critics, disowning it and never again returning to the director’s chair .
—
James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Even some people who have repeatedly criticized the verification system were surprised that the Trump administration seemed to disown it.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, Trump has continued to rage at those calling for the Epstein evidence, even going so far as to disown members of his MAGA faithful.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 July 2025
No scene is quicker to disown an act for its commercial success, and Garris (along with guitarists Isaac Hale and Nicko Calderon, bassist Kevin Otten and drummer Kevin Kaine) is fully aware of the line the band walks.
—Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for disown
James Grebey, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Even some people who have repeatedly criticized the verification system were surprised that the Trump administration seemed to disown it.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, Trump has continued to rage at those calling for the Epstein evidence, even going so far as to disown members of his MAGA faithful.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 July 2025
No scene is quicker to disown an act for its commercial success, and Garris (along with guitarists Isaac Hale and Nicko Calderon, bassist Kevin Otten and drummer Kevin Kaine) is fully aware of the line the band walks.
—Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for disown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disown
Verb
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His latest appeal was denied for review by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in May 2025, at which time Zellner announced her intent to file a petition in federal court, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Earlier this month, Ted Cruz said that more than 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2009, a claim the Nigerian government denies.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But the union filed a lawsuit in November 2023, alleging that the tribe had refused to select an arbitrator to conduct the card-counting process.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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One teen said Scarr routinely pressured him for oral sex, including in the sanctuary, and threatened to kill himself if the boy refused.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 2023 edition opened a month later as Israel intensified its bombing campaign on Gaza, which has since killed more than 67,000 people, injured another 170,000 and razed the Palestinian territory to the ground, prompting accusations of genocide, which Israel has strongly rejected.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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Wyden’s aide rejected outright the concept that the Finance Committee lacks proper jurisdiction.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Together, these women find respite from, and at times refute, perennial patriarchal powers.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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Bovino appeared before Ellis on Tuesday after the plaintiffs accused him of throwing a tear gas canister into a crowd of demonstrators without justification or warning – a characterization DHS has refuted.—
Devan Cole,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disown. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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