disavow

[dis-uh-vou]

See more synonyms for disavow on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of disavow

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

Related formsdis·a·vow·ed·ly, adverbdis·a·vow·er, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

deny, reject, disclaim.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for disavow

Contemporary Examples

Nor will the CIA disavow those controversial efforts entirely.
CIA Won’t Defend Its One-Time Torturers
Shane Harris, Tim Mak
December 6, 2014
To disavow those moral responsibilities, our tradition suggests, is to not be truly free.
Obama to Israelis: ‘The World Can Change’
Peter Beinart
March 21, 2013
Rather than today's young women feeling like the heirs to a glorious legacy, they disavow those who came before.
‘The Feminine Mystique’ at 50, Part 2: Three Feminists on What It Means Today
Jessica Bennett, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Alisa Solomon
February 12, 2013
I can completely relate to his struggle of not wanting to disavow his Jewish identity for the sake of his gay identity.
Prop 8’s Aftermath: With Gay Rights, Religion Still Lags
Sir Ari Gold
February 8, 2012
There are some pieces of themselves that politicians simply cannot disavow.
Newt Gingrich Targets Romney, Returns to Cage-Fighting Roots
Michelle Cottle
January 5, 2012

Historical Examples

He felt his condition, and his powerful genius did not disavow it.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete
Duc de Saint-Simon
Where we disavow being keeper to our brother we're his Cain.
Things as They Are
Amy Wilson-Carmichael
Mary would not disavow her claim to Elizabeth's crown, nor would she directly assert it.
Queen Elizabeth
Jacob Abbott
I feel shame—bitter, bitter shame, that I cannot disclaim him—disavow him!
Luttrell Of Arran
Charles James Lever
The President was obliged to disavow the acts of his agents.
Union and Democracy
Allen Johnson

British Dictionary definitions for disavow

disavow

verb

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

Derived Formsdisavowal, noundisavowedly, adverbdisavower, 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

Word Origin and History for disavow

v.

late 14c., from Old French desavouer (13c.), from des- "opposite of" (see dis-) + avouer (see avow). Related: Disavowed; disavowing.

disavow

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}disavow

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for disavow

Contemporary Examples

Nor will the CIA disavow those controversial efforts entirely.

To disavow those moral responsibilities, our tradition suggests, is to not be truly free.

Rather than today's young women feeling like the heirs to a glorious legacy, they disavow those who came before.

I can completely relate to his struggle of not wanting to disavow his Jewish identity for the sake of his gay identity.

There are some pieces of themselves that politicians simply cannot disavow.

Historical Examples

He felt his condition, and his powerful genius did not disavow it.

Where we disavow being keeper to our brother we're his Cain.

Mary would not disavow her claim to Elizabeth's crown, nor would she directly assert it.

I feel shame—bitter, bitter shame, that I cannot disclaim him—disavow him!

The President was obliged to disavow the acts of his agents.

disavow

Word Origin and History for disavow

v.

Origin of disavow