DISOWN Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

disown

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈōn

Definition of disown

as in to deny

to declare not to be true he steadfastly disowned that he was having an affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to refuse

to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility the dictatorial father angrily disowned his rebellious son

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 disown The platforms that helped usher in the generative AI boom are now trying to clean up the mess without disowning the technology behind it. — Angela Yang, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026 Offensive chants have not always been drowned out or disowned in the UK, Europe and beyond. — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 July 2026 Some Sox fans claimed to disown the team back then, and now are jumping back on the bandwagon. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026 The same fiber that the broader industry is scrambling to disown is also winding deeper, tighter—and, indeed, faster—into the Chinese economy. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disown

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disown

Verb

The former president denied the accusations and called the proceedings politically motivated.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Trump on Monday alluded to his own frustrations over the reports, which include allegations that Guilfoyle tried to solicit money from a donor to pay off her credit card ahead of her confirmation process (Guilfoyle has denied the story).

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of deny

Verb

Gee refused to budge, saying the 10-year ban was firm and accusing the national organizations of encouraging the break.

— Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
In one instance, a Minnesota hotel that refused to let immigration officers stay there in January apologized after public criticism from DHS, saying the decision violated its internal policies.

— Anthony Izaguirre, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

Quebec voters have twice rejected independence, most recently by a razor-thin margin in a 1995 referendum.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
For countries that rejected the open international order, as the axis countries do today, the benefits were far fewer and the penalties considerable.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

The app then connects them with a doctor who will confirm or refute AI’s initial findings within three minutes.

— Alana Semuels, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Others describe the studies necessary to replicate, refute or refine these advances and ensure the necessary scientific rigor to successfully discover and develop new drugs.

— Fred D. Ledley, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of refute

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disorients

disown

disowned

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“Disown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disown. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of disown

verb

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