Synonym Chooser

How is the word avow distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of avow are affirm, assert, declare, and protest. While all these words mean "to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection," avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.

avowed that all investors would be repaid in full

When might affirm be a better fit than avow?

The synonyms affirm and avow are sometimes interchangeable, but affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

affirmed the existence of an afterlife

Where would assert be a reasonable alternative to avow?

Although the words assert and avow have much in common, assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence.

asserted that modern music is just noise

When would declare be a good substitute for avow?

In some situations, the words declare and avow are roughly equivalent. However, declare stresses open or public statement.

declared her support for the candidate

When could protest be used to replace avow?

The words protest and avow can be used in similar contexts, but protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.

protested that he really had been misquoted

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of avow The Bear executive producers Josh Senior and Christopher Storer are avowed fans of ’90s music. Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 June 2024 As the country awaited the Investigative Committee's findings, several Kremlin allies and avowed Russian nationalists have provided their own theories. Charles Maynes, NPR, 25 June 2024 If Trump tries to appoint unqualified or avowed anti-Constitution people to cabinet and other high level posts, the Senate, including some Republicans, will refuse to confirm them. Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2024 By contrast to his predecessors, Xi’s avowed ideological understanding of socialism leans heavily on traditional Han Chinese history and culture. Haiyun Ma, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for avow 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avow
Verb
  • Despite Jesse Palmer’s suspicions, Jonathan insists he’s never done a striptease professionally.
    Alice Burton, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Brancato’s ready to order a tactical pause, but Acting President Duke Nukem insists on moving forward with the attack.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • But hours after polls closed, the electoral council declared Maduro the winner and refused to release tally sheets and conduct audits required by law.
    Tirana Hassan, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Kentucky became the first state the Associated Press called in the 2020 General Election when the organization declared Trump the winner around 7 p.m., roughly an hour after polls closed.
    Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Many of the lawsuits alleged abuse going back decades against priests who were allegedly allowed to victimize parishioners with impunity.
    Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Legal proceedings include a complaint filed by H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, alleging breach of a tail financing provision, with Organovo defending these claims vigorously.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • This was after Nan professed her love to Guy (Matthew Broome) and had chosen him over the Duke of Tintagel.
    Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2024
  • In a world where even those who profess to love movies largely stream them at home, Here is a picture that demands big-screen real estate.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Israeli government claims its current operations in Lebanon achieve exactly these goals.
    Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
  • SpaceX claims all the company’s launches are a military, national-security necessity and thus exempt from California scrutiny.
    Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Those settlements show another, quieter front in China’s expanding efforts to assert its control over disputed, peripheral territories – also playing out in the South and East China Seas – as Chinese leader Xi Jinping seeks to bolster national security and enhance China’s position over its rivals.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
  • While Venu’s backers have promoted the service as being something new, the lower court asserted that the concept was actually not new, and was also merely an aggregation of 15 linear network feeds.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • He's struggled with injuries over the last few seasons, but will now look to contribute on a top contending team.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The state and private plaintiffs contend the map was not predominantly motivated by race and instead a desire to protect certain incumbents.
    Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Inside, actual witch Lilia (Patti LuPone) grasps his hand and proclaims that his lifeline is split in two, foretelling drama to come.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024
  • On her Instagram story, Lopez — who previously proclaimed Harris as her pick for president — shared slides from Harris’ campaign following the backlash to Hinchcliffe’s set.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near avow

Cite this Entry

“Avow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avow. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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