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"Disavow" vs. "renounce": words of rejection

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 18/02/2025, 21:26
English.me team member
Disavow and renounce. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both "disavow" and "renounce" involve rejecting, denying, or distancing oneself from something such as a belief, claim, association, or responsibility.

What is different?

"Disavow" means to deny any responsibility for or connection to something, often disassociating oneself from it. "Renounce" means to voluntarily give up, abandon, or formally reject a claim, right, possession, or belief.

Which one is more common?

Internet search results for disavow) and renounce

Examples of usage

Disavow
  • The politician disavowed any knowledge of the illegal activities.
  • She disavowed her earlier statements when new evidence emerged.
  • The company disavowed responsibility for the defective products.
Renounce
  • He renounced his claim to the inheritance.
  • They decided to renounce their old habits and start anew.
  • She renounced her citizenship to become a citizen of another country.

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