Disavow
verb
To say that you are not responsible for something or reject any connection with it.
He disavowed any knowledge of the illegal transactions.
Often appears as...
- disavow any connection
- disavow any knowledge
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To refuse to support or accept something.
The politician was quick to disavow the radical statements made by his party member.
Often appears as...
- disavow a statement
- disavow a belief
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To say that you are not responsible for something or reject any connection with it.
He disavowed any knowledge of the illegal transactions.
Often appears as...
- disavow any connection
- disavow any knowledge
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To refuse to support or accept something.
The politician was quick to disavow the radical statements made by his party member.
Often appears as...
- disavow a statement
- disavow a belief
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Public Denial
Used when publicly denying involvement or knowledge in a situation.
The CEO disavowed having prior information about the cyber breach.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Rejection
Implies a firm and decisive rejection to distance oneself from an issue.
During the trial, she disavowed any association with the suspect.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoiding Blame
Often used to avoid blame or deny responsibility for an action.
The official disavowed the mistakes made in the report.
Pro Tip 1/3Public Denial
Used when publicly denying involvement or knowledge in a situation.
The CEO disavowed having prior information about the cyber breach.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Rejection
Implies a firm and decisive rejection to distance oneself from an issue.
During the trial, she disavowed any association with the suspect.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoiding Blame
Often used to avoid blame or deny responsibility for an action.
The official disavowed the mistakes made in the report.
Pro Tip 1/3Public Denial
Used when publicly denying involvement or knowledge in a situation.
The CEO disavowed having prior information about the cyber breach.
Pro Tip 2/3Strong Rejection
Implies a firm and decisive rejection to distance oneself from an issue.
During the trial, she disavowed any association with the suspect.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoiding Blame
Often used to avoid blame or deny responsibility for an action.
The official disavowed the mistakes made in the report.
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Video examples
Neil and Bill Talk...
inconvenient for some people so they just disavow it we maybe those of us who believe in it may be wrong about how quick the adverse consequences would be manifest but I think with regard to science we at least have to get those
Video examples
Older people are happier...
improvements as they grow older we've asked well maybe older people are just trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise depressing existence but the more we've tried to disavow this finding the more evidence we find to
Video examples
Laura Carstensen: Older...
these improvements as they grow older. We've asked, well, maybe older people are just trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise depressing existence. But the more we've tried to disavow this finding,
Video examples
How to deal with...
was published or not it was something that had to be written to say what needed to be said to validate my reality even if it was disavowed which it was it
Video examples
Neil and Bill Talk...
inconvenient for some people so they just disavow it we maybe those of us who believe in it may be wrong about how quick the adverse consequences would be manifest but I think with regard to science we at least have to get those
Video examples
Older people are happier...
improvements as they grow older we've asked well maybe older people are just trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise depressing existence but the more we've tried to disavow this finding the more evidence we find to
Video examples
Laura Carstensen: Older...
these improvements as they grow older. We've asked, well, maybe older people are just trying to put a positive spin on an otherwise depressing existence. But the more we've tried to disavow this finding,
Video examples
How to deal with...
was published or not it was something that had to be written to say what needed to be said to validate my reality even if it was disavowed which it was it
Example 1 of 4
Quote examples
John Green
American Author
I was enrolled in divinity school and thought I was going to become a minister - I'm Episcopalian - but I was disavowed of that notion pretty quickly while working at the hospital. I found myself really unfulfilled by the answers that are traditionally offered to questions of why some people suffer and why others suffer so little.
Quote examples
Mark Fisher
British Writer
Capitalism does not require us to hold a particular set of cognitive beliefs; it only requires that we act as if certain beliefs (about money, commodities etc) are true. The rituals are the beliefs, beliefs which, at the level of subjective self-description, may well be disavowed.
Quote examples
Celeste Ng
American Author
I wanted to write a book about people who have the best intentions and think - really, truly think - that they're doing the right thing. And then they realize that when those ideals come knocking at their windowsill, a lot of times they will suddenly disavow those ideals.
Quote examples
Jill Lepore
American Historian
History is hereditary only in this way: we, all of us, inherit everything, and then we choose what to cherish, what to disavow, and what to do next, which is why it's worth trying to know where things come from.
Quote examples
Paul Berg
American Scientist
Today, it is research with human embryonic stem cells and attempts to prepare cloned stem cells for research and medical therapies that are being disavowed as being ethically unacceptable.
Quote examples
Pete Gallego
American Politician
I think it becomes incumbent upon a candidate to essentially disavow some of the things that are in that party platform. Otherwise, I think the assumption is that you are a true believer.
Quote examples
Jane Mayer
American Journalist
Now that he has disavowed as outright lies many of the stories he told himself, it's hard to know what to make of those who still insist that David Brock had it right the first time.
Quote examples
W. Kamau Bell
American Comedian
Over the years, I'd hear Jon Stewart disavow being a journalist and say, 'No, I'm a comedian.' I'd be like, 'Stop pretending. You know you're a journalist.
Quote examples
Anthony McCarten
New Zealander Novelist
I often find that writers who disavow the importance of an ending are just not very good at endings.
Quote examples
Mike Cernovich
American Writer
I never disavow things I've said.
Quote examples
John Green
American Author
I was enrolled in divinity school and thought I was going to become a minister - I'm Episcopalian - but I was disavowed of that notion pretty quickly while working at the hospital. I found myself really unfulfilled by the answers that are traditionally offered to questions of why some people suffer and why others suffer so little.
Quote examples
Mark Fisher
British Writer
Capitalism does not require us to hold a particular set of cognitive beliefs; it only requires that we act as if certain beliefs (about money, commodities etc) are true. The rituals are the beliefs, beliefs which, at the level of subjective self-description, may well be disavowed.
Quote examples
Celeste Ng
American Author
I wanted to write a book about people who have the best intentions and think - really, truly think - that they're doing the right thing. And then they realize that when those ideals come knocking at their windowsill, a lot of times they will suddenly disavow those ideals.
Quote examples
Jill Lepore
American Historian
History is hereditary only in this way: we, all of us, inherit everything, and then we choose what to cherish, what to disavow, and what to do next, which is why it's worth trying to know where things come from.
Quote examples
Paul Berg
American Scientist
Today, it is research with human embryonic stem cells and attempts to prepare cloned stem cells for research and medical therapies that are being disavowed as being ethically unacceptable.
Quote examples
Pete Gallego
American Politician
I think it becomes incumbent upon a candidate to essentially disavow some of the things that are in that party platform. Otherwise, I think the assumption is that you are a true believer.
Quote examples
Jane Mayer
American Journalist
Now that he has disavowed as outright lies many of the stories he told himself, it's hard to know what to make of those who still insist that David Brock had it right the first time.
Quote examples
W. Kamau Bell
American Comedian
Over the years, I'd hear Jon Stewart disavow being a journalist and say, 'No, I'm a comedian.' I'd be like, 'Stop pretending. You know you're a journalist.
Quote examples
Anthony McCarten
New Zealander Novelist
I often find that writers who disavow the importance of an ending are just not very good at endings.
Quote examples
Mike Cernovich
American Writer
I never disavow things I've said.
Example 1 of 10
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