disavowal

noun

Definition of disavowalnext
as in denial
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement the mayor's disavowal of the rumor that a terrorist threat had been received put our minds at rest

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Example 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 disavowal Part of what fascinated me about their presentation was not only their refusal to kowtow to male desire, which for decades had a stranglehold on rock aesthetics, but a concomitant disavowal of commercialism. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Pelicot is troubled by her children’s immediate disavowal of their father, of their entire childhood. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026 But with Rourke’s strong disavowal, Hines also wanted to assure fans that there was nothing shady about the GoFundMe. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026 The 2025 version manages just eight mentions, including a sharp disavowal. — Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025 Mamdani initially tried to stay on-message, offering a quick disavowal of an unsavory association or controversial past statement and pivoting back his agenda. — Ben Adler, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025 The post marks a significant shift from the President’s past disavowals of the unpopular right-wing policy blueprint, which was created by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation ahead of the 2024 election. — Connor Greene, Time, 3 Oct. 2025 Anderson saw something in the artist formerly known as Marky Mark, who’d only made the transition from musical artist to actor three years earlier, that Wahlberg still doesn’t see in himself, if his disavowal of the movie is any indication. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025 But the new wave of disavowals represents the latest sign that the conflict, which has killed thousands of Palestinians, has become polarizing within the mainstream of the party. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disavowal
  1. denial
  2. rejection
Noun
  • Entry denials have risen sharply over the past year and for reasons that did not constitute grounds for denial previously, including suspicions of anti-Israel views, say Israeli lawyers who represent travelers who were denied entry.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Read more from Liz on the details of the ADA’s denials and how those involved have reacted.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of denial
Noun
  • Wilson’s whispering, Kermit-ish cadence juxtaposed with Heems’s audacious bars shorthands the borough’s rejection of one-size-fits-all characterization as one of the most diverse urban centers in the world.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Some experts say the call for a temporary halt to more approvals should not be taken as a rejection of potential foreign investment in the country, but rather as a mechanism to establish clear rules, especially around transparency.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of rejection

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Cite this Entry

“Disavowal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disavowal. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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