GAINSAYING Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

gainsaying

verb

present participle of gainsay

as in denying

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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as in contradicting

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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for gainsaying

Verb

The league also took a hard, public stance in the Brendan Sorsby situation by denying the former Texas Tech quarterback entry to the supplemental draft.

— Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Amazon discriminated against pregnant warehouse employees by denying accommodations like bathroom breaks and the option to sit while working, according to a lawsuit filed yesterday by four women who worked for Amazon while pregnant.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of denying

Verb

Prosecutors say Castro briefly struggled with Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, then fired through a front door into an occupied home, hitting him in the leg, contradicting earlier federal accounts.

— Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Finally, leaders who have inconsistent messaging—giving one instruction today and contradicting it tomorrow—create confusion, frustration and uncertainty.

— Don Weber, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of contradicting

Verb

At first, all 15 countries have the same colored ballot slips for the straw polls, so no one knows who is supporting or rejecting a candidate.

— Tim Backshall, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2026
There is still time for Americans to create a new apogee before America 300 by rejecting the lies, insecurity, and ignorance endemic of the last quarter-century.

— Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of rejecting

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.

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gainsaying

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“Gainsaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gainsaying. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gainsaying

verb

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