disowning

verb

present participle of disown
1
as in denying
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 refusing
to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility the dictatorial father angrily disowned his rebellious son

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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 disowning Hong Kong's stablecoin licensing further illustrates this, approving only HKD tokens while publicly disowning any CNH stablecoin claims. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The platforms that helped usher in the generative AI boom are now trying to clean up the mess without disowning the technology behind it. — Angela Yang, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026 In September 2025, it was revealed that Ferguson sent an email to Epstein apologizing for publicly disowning him in a March 2011 interview with the Evening Standard. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026 The pastor approaches the line without fully disenchanting; a magician drawing attention to the trick without disowning its power. — Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026 Emails published on the Mail on Sunday revealed Ferguson apologized to Epstein weeks after publicly disowning him, back in 2011. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Nov. 2025 Extended family members of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller are disowning him, according to his cousin. — Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disowning
  1. denying
  2. refusing
  3. rejecting
  4. refuting
Verb
  • Pinch-runner Sung-Mun Song scored that winner with a deft headfirst slide, denying Sanchez’s tag attempt after a good (but high) throw from rookie right fielder Luis Lara one play after Lara denied Jackson Merrill’s a game-winning extra-base hit.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and amplifier of the most absurd of MAGA’s many election-denying claims, was defeated convincingly in his bid for the GOP nomination for governor.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of denying
Verb
  • Colombia has begun receiving international aid and rescuers after initially refusing some offers in the crucial hours following Monday’s devastating earthquake.
    — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • They have been used to subdue violent suspects who are refusing to get into squad cars and inmates who are harming themselves and threatening officers, according to Compliant Technologies.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of refusing
Verb
  • Following fan outcry, Warners then decided to explore offers to sell it, only to — after rejecting various bids — seemingly take it off the market.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Thurmond offered only a brief explanation for rejecting the appeal, leaving the decision somewhat at odds with the state’s separate finding that the teachers agreement would have improved the district’s financial position.
    — Chaewon Chung August 11, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejecting
Verb
  • Many d This week, the department issued a follow-up statement refuting both of those claims.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • The distant thud of shelling punctuates the evening, refuting one guest’s optimism that the latest ceasefire agreement will endure.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026
Definition of refuting

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disowned
disowning
disownment
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Cite this Entry

“Disowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disowning. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disowning

Nglish: Translation of disowning for Spanish Speakers

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