gainsay
to deny, dispute, or contradict.
to speak or act against; oppose.
Origin of gainsay
1Other words from gainsay
- gainsayer, noun
- un·gain·said, adjective
Words Nearby gainsay
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use gainsay in a sentence
But it will be a cost, and it will be large -- nobody can gainsay that.
You Still Can't Wish Away the Facts on Immigration Amnesty | David Frum | May 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTAs long as the United States was the economic primus inter pares, those arguments were hard to gainsay.
I ne'er heard yet that any of these bolder vices wanted less impudence to gainsay what they did, than to perform it first.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouIt was hard to make clear what the mate meant, but all to a 22 certain extent understood, and no one ventured to gainsay it.
Adrift on the Pacific | Edward S. EllisThere was that about me to stir surprise; with those 14 generous days so long gone by, I will not gainsay it.
The Cruise of the Shining Light | Norman Duncan
"I cannot gainsay your statement," the Count de Montego said.
Under Wellington's Command | G. A. HentyIt would seem that he could not gainsay her words, for he made no reply.
British Dictionary definitions for gainsay
/ (ɡeɪnˈseɪ) /
(tr) archaic, or literary to deny (an allegation, a statement, etc); contradict
Origin of gainsay
1Derived forms of gainsay
- gainsayer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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