disavow

verb

dis·avow ˌdis-ə-ˈvau̇

disavowed; disavowing; disavows

Synonyms of disavow next

transitive verb

: to deny responsibility for : repudiate

disavowed the actions of his subordinates

: to refuse to acknowledge or accept : disclaim

party leaders disavowed him

… have publicly disavowed any claim on the Graceland estate.—

Dan Chu

disavowable

ˌdis-ə-ˈvau̇-ə-bəl

adjective

disavowal

ˌdis-ə-ˈvau̇(-ə)l

noun

Did you know?

When is a vow not a vow? When it has been disavowed, for one. Let’s say you make a solemn pledge to eat green vegetables every day of the week and twice on Sundays. If a few months down the cruciferous road you decide such a diet is for the rabbits, you might disavow (that is, repudiate or deny responsibility for) your earlier vow. Or perhaps you stick to it, going so far as to eat nothing but brassicas 24/7. Well, in that case, your local chapter of the Carnivore’s Club might illustrate another meaning of disavow by disavowing you (refusing to acknowledge or accept you) as a member any longer. Now when is a vow not avow? You might be surprised to learn that vow and avow/disavow are not related. Though all three words came to English from Latin via Anglo-French, they have distinct roots: vow comes from the Latin verb vovēre, meaning “to vow,” while avow and disavow trace back to the verb advocare, meaning “to summon.” We stand by it: there’s no denying that disavow has history.

Examples of disavow in a Sentence

He disavowed the actions of his subordinates. She now seems to be trying to disavow her earlier statements.

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

More recently, indirect cost reform was one of the proposals in Project 2025, a sweeping plan to overhaul the government that Trump disavowed during his campaign. —

Katherine Dillinger, CNN, 8 Feb. 2025 In a recent interview with Deadline, director Jacques Audiard disavowed the actress’ posts and opinions, which Camille says is the opinion of everyone else on the film. —

Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025 Vought is the president of the conservative think tank Center for Renewing America, which was on the advisory board for the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, a blueprint for the next Republican presidential administration — an initiative that Trump disavowed on the campaign trail. —

Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025 Read More: What Trump’s Win Means for Education Plans for how to dismantle the Department are outlined in the Project 2025 playbook, a Heritage Foundation policy plan that Trump disavowed during the campaign but has since mirrored in many of his early actions. —

Solcyré Burga, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for disavow