1
as in to deny
to declare not to be true
it can't be gainsaid that most people wish they had more time and money
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to contradict
to make an assertion that is contrary to one made by (another)
repeatedly tried to gainsay me, though every point I made was backed up by facts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gainsay
Within these rules, the CFPB cannot be gainsaid by anyone — not Congress, the Fed or the president.
—
Stephen L. Carter, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
It cannot be gainsaid that Biden cooperated and Trump obstructed.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 2 Mar. 2024
There’s a way to gainsay that impression — and inform voters of the rivals’ actual positions on the issues: Put the two candidates side by side on a debate stage for an extended period of time.
—Matthew Yglesias, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2024
None of this is to gainsay the help that western European allies have provided to Ukraine or to minimize the constraints that hamper them from doing more.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for gainsay
Stephen L. Carter, The Mercury News, 23 May 2024
It cannot be gainsaid that Biden cooperated and Trump obstructed.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 2 Mar. 2024
There’s a way to gainsay that impression — and inform voters of the rivals’ actual positions on the issues: Put the two candidates side by side on a debate stage for an extended period of time.
—Matthew Yglesias, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2024
None of this is to gainsay the help that western European allies have provided to Ukraine or to minimize the constraints that hamper them from doing more.
—A. Wess Mitchell, Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for gainsay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainsay
Verb
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Alan Jackson, a lawyer for Joaquin, denied the charges.—
Luc Cohen,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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As press secretary, Jean-Pierre repeatedly denied reports regarding Biden’s mental fitness during his time in office.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The approvals contradict the International Gymnastics Federation’s (FIG) neutrality conditions detailed in their ad-hoc guidelines.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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This contradicts the language Paxton has used when discussing these and other firms.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That backup has since grown into a hundreds-strong campaign to refute the DHS allegations, which supporters call a resurgence of anti-Muslim fearmongering that has persisted across party lines since the 9/11 attacks 24 years ago this month.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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Days after the hearing, the leader of the Pentagon's office to investigate UFOs provided testimony of his own refuting some of the claims.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Democrats have long conceded that the party needs a new vision after voters soundly rejected their presidential ticket last fall, and internal squabbles about the party’s future have spilled out into the public.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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China has rejected the accusation and accused the Philippines of damaging the coral reef ecosystem in the waterway instead.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gainsay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainsay. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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