disavow
The politician disavowed the controversial remarks made by his advisor.
The politician publicly denied any connection to or responsibility for the advisor's remarks.
to deny any responsibility for, connection with, or knowledge of someone or something
The company disavowed the actions of its former CEO after the scandal.
The company publicly denied any association with or approval of the former CEO's actions.
She disavowed her earlier statements, claiming they were taken out of context.
She denied that her previous statements accurately reflected her views.
Often used in formal or political contexts to distance oneself from controversial actions or statements.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Formal Usage
Use 'disavow' in formal contexts, such as politics or legal settings, to clearly distance oneself from something.
Gold Rule
Public Denial
'Disavow' implies a public or formal denial, often used in official statements or press releases.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'disavowen', from Old French 'desavewer', from 'des-' (dis-) + 'avewer' (to avow).
Usage Notes
Often used in formal or political contexts to distance oneself from controversial actions or statements.