Synonyms of disowning

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

• denying
• rejecting
• refuting
• contradicting
• disavowing
• disclaiming
• repudiating
• disallowing
• negating
• disaffirming
• traversing
• disconfirming
• gainsaying
• negativing
• disproving
• rebutting
• disputing
• challenging
• disagreeing (with)
• confuting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• owning
• acknowledging
• admitting
• confirming
• allowing
• adopting
• accepting
• conceding
• embracing
• declaring
• maintaining
• claiming
• asserting
• affirming
• submitting
• announcing
• avowing
• professing
• espousing
• validating
• verifying
• averring
• corroborating
• substantiating
• authenticating

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• denying
• refusing
• disavowing
• disclaiming
• repudiating
• refuting
• rejecting
• criticizing
• contradicting
• questioning
• disallowing
• disproving
• washing one's hands of
• negating
• renouncing
• retracting
• rebutting
• challenging
• abdicating
• gainsaying
• confuting
• recanting
• disputing
• abjuring
• negativing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recognizing
• owning
• acknowledging
• claiming
• adopting
• accepting
• embracing
• granting
• admitting
• declaring
• maintaining
• asserting
• affirming
• avowing
• submitting
• announcing
• conceding
• espousing
• confessing
• confirming
• professing
• validating
• verifying
• averring
• corroborating
• substantiating
• authenticating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of disowning

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