Disown
Disown verb - To refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility.
Usage example: the dictatorial father angrily disowned his rebellious son
Refuse is a synonym for disown in deny topic. In some cases you can use "Refuse" instead a verb "Disown", when it comes to topics like action, reject, renounce, repudiate.
Nearby Word: disowning
Refuse
Refuse verb - To show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to.
Usage example: she refused the award, citing the hard work of others who deserved the recognition more than she did
Disown is a synonym for refuse in deny topic. You can use "Disown" instead a verb "Refuse", if it concerns topics such as renounce, repudiate.
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
-
Mercy Kill: The Infamous ending ends with Delsin using an orbital drop to kill the Akomish afflicted with the concrete after they disown him and refuse to accept the cure for the disease.
-
Jimmy in the Chick tract "Unloved," as his parents refuse to attend his high school graduation, constantly tell him he's inferior to his sister, criticize his choice of a wife for having kids (and she later leaves him with all his money) and disown him after he asks to borrow money.
-
The Unfavourite: Jimmy in "Unloved", as his parents refuse to attend his high school graduation, constantly tell him he's inferior to his sister Nancy, criticize his choice of a wife, blame him for having rotten kids, berate him for losing his job, and disown him after he asks to borrow money.
Source: Comic Book / Chick Tracts
Cite this Source
Refuse and Disown. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/disown/refuse
Disown & Refuse. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/disown/refuse>.
Refuse or Disown. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/disown/refuse.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "disown" and "refuse" have occurred on timeline