What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deny
Example
He denied any involvement in the crime. [deny: verb]
Example
The company denied my application for a loan. [denied: past tense]
Example
She denied making the offensive comment. [denying: present participle]
disown
Example
The father disowned his son after he dropped out of school. [disowned: past tense]
Example
She decided to disown her family after they refused to accept her partner. [disown: verb]
Example
He disowned the controversial statement made by his colleague. [disowning: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deny is more commonly used than disown in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deny and disown?
Both deny and disown can be used in formal and informal contexts, but deny is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts.
