Synonyms

disavow

American

[dis-uh-vou] / ˌdɪs əˈvaʊ /

verb (used with object)

to disclaim knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for; disown; repudiate.

He disavowed the remark that had been attributed to him.

Synonyms:

disclaim, reject, deny

disavow British

/ ˌdɪsəˈvaʊ /

verb

(tr) to deny knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for

"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

Other Word Forms

disavowal noun
disavowedly adverb
disavower noun

Etymology

Origin of disavow

1350–1400; Middle English disavouen, desavouen < Anglo-French, Old French desavouer. See dis- ¹, avow

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He later defended his comments and said that he had been using hyperbole to make a point, adding that he disavowed racists and that media reports had ignored the context of his comments.

From BBC

The studios gamely went along, ruining the lives of a number of their creative talent who refused to disavow their pasts.

From Salon

As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

From BBC

Instead of disavowing them, she answered that she wouldn’t post such remarks today because she has “matured.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The Journal reported in May that Khan invoked the investigation of Netanyahu and Gallant in communications with his accuser as he urged her to disavow her allegations against him.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023