Disavowing

Disavowing is the act of denying responsibility for, or rejecting association with, a statement, belief, or action. It implies a formal or explicit renunciation of something, often with the intention of distancing oneself from negative consequences or undesirable affiliations. The disavower aims to sever any perceived connection and to clearly communicate their lack of involvement or endorsement. This action can be applied to various contexts, including political statements, personal behaviors, financial transactions, or beliefs, as well as the responsibility attached to those things. Disavowing often involves a public statement or official declaration to demonstrate the detachment.

Disavowing meaning with examples

• The politician, facing a scandal involving campaign donations, was quick to disavow any knowledge of the illegal activities, issuing a statement condemning the actions of his associates and promising full cooperation with investigators. The public hoped that this clear denial of any knowledge would restore faith in his leadership and demonstrate a commitment to honesty.
• After a controversial speech by a company executive, the board of directors had to swiftly disavow the offensive remarks. They immediately released a statement, clarifying the company's stance on diversity and inclusion, which was a clear rejection of the executive's perspective and actions, in the hopes of damage control.
• The government was forced to disavow the actions of a rogue intelligence agent, whose unauthorized operation had caused an international incident. The official statement was a firm rejection of the agent's initiative and the actions were seen as unacceptable to diplomatic practice, demonstrating a commitment to international law and stability.
• The artist decided to publicly disavow a piece of work that was later discovered to be a blatant copy of another artist's concept. This rejection of the work was motivated by ethical considerations and a determination to protect the artist's reputation from further damage.
• When a celebrity's social media account posted inflammatory comments, their PR team was swift to disavow the offensive material. Their statement was a rejection of the post, claiming their account had been hacked, and that their brand had been abused by hackers who'd posted it.