disavow
[dis-uh-vou]
- to disclaim knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for; disown; repudiate: He disavowed the remark that had been attributed to him.
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Origin of disavow
Synonyms
See more synonyms for disavow on Thesaurus.comdeny, 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.
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.
‘The Feminine Mystique’ at 50, Part 2: Three Feminists on What It Means TodayJessica 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.
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.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, CompleteDuc de Saint-Simon
Where we disavow being keeper to our brother we're his Cain.
Things as They AreAmy Wilson-Carmichael
Mary would not disavow her claim to Elizabeth's crown, nor would she directly assert it.
Queen ElizabethJacob Abbott
I feel shame—bitter, bitter shame, that I cannot disclaim him—disavow him!
Luttrell Of ArranCharles James Lever
The President was obliged to disavow the acts of his agents.
Union and DemocracyAllen Johnson
disavow
- (tr) to deny knowledge of, connection with, or responsibility for
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for disavow
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper