Definitions
- Refusing to acknowledge or accept the truth of something. - Rejecting a request or proposal. - Disavowing responsibility for an action or statement.
- Refusing to acknowledge or accept a relationship with someone. - Rejecting ownership or responsibility for something. - Cutting off all ties or support for someone.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words involve rejecting or refusing something.
- 2Both words can be used to distance oneself from a situation or person.
- 3Both words can be used to avoid responsibility or consequences.
What is the difference?
- 1Object of rejection: Deny is used to reject a statement, claim, or accusation, while disown is used to reject a relationship or ownership.
- 2Emotional impact: Disown has a stronger emotional impact than deny, as it involves cutting off ties and rejecting a person or group.
- 3Scope: Deny can be used in a wider range of contexts than disown, which is more specific to relationships and ownership.
- 4Connotation: Deny can have a defensive or confrontational connotation, while disown can have a more final and permanent connotation.
- 5Usage: Deny is more commonly used in everyday language than disown.
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Remember this!
Deny and disown are synonyms that both involve rejecting or refusing something. However, deny is used to reject a statement, claim, or accusation, while disown is used to reject a relationship or ownership. Disown has a stronger emotional impact and a more final connotation than deny. While deny is more versatile and commonly used in everyday language, disown is more specific to relationships and ownership.
