avow
verb
ə-ˈvau̇ 
avowed; avowing; avows
transitive verb
1
: to declare assuredly
She avowed her innocence.
2
: to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame
ever ready to avow his reactionary outlook
avower
ə-ˈvau̇(-ə)r
noun 
Synonyms
- affirm
- allege
- assert
- aver
- avouch
- claim
- contend
- declare
- insist
- maintain
- profess
- protest
- purport
- warrant
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
avowed that the colonization of Mars in our lifetime is not only possible but probable avowed their undying love for each other
Recent Examples on the Web Supporters include many people who passionately avow the medical and recreational benefits. 
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2021 But Scotland and Northern Ireland do not need to avow republicanism to vote for democratic self-determination. Matt Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2021 That explains Mr Johnson’s decision to avow the existence of the NCF, which has been quietly hacking away since the spring. The Economist, 1 Dec. 2020 The coffee giant had been quick to avow its commitment to Black Lives Matter as protests erupted over Floyd’s death, and committed $1 million to racial equity organizations. Alexia Elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, 19 Aug. 2020 While avowing eternal solidarity with Holocaust survivors and the Jewish people, Abbas mentioned neither Israel’s role in expelling his people nor its failure to guarantee that such a mass expulsion event can never recur. Omri Boehm, The New York Review of Books, 9 June 2020 Prosecutors, who have been criticized in recent weeks for their long inaction despite Mr. Matzneff’s avowed pedophilia, are moving on a separate track that could lead to more criminal charges. Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2020 After the event, Chris Berry — a retired telephone company technician — says without prompting that the topic that stood out most for him was Steyer’s avowed support for slavery reparations. Manuel Roig-franzia, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2020 Prosecutors, who have been criticized in recent weeks for their long inaction despite Matzneff’s avowed pedophilia, are moving on a separate track that could lead to more criminal charges. Norimitsu Onishi, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2020 See More
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2021 But Scotland and Northern Ireland do not need to avow republicanism to vote for democratic self-determination. Matt Seaton, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2021 That explains Mr Johnson’s decision to avow the existence of the NCF, which has been quietly hacking away since the spring. The Economist, 1 Dec. 2020 The coffee giant had been quick to avow its commitment to Black Lives Matter as protests erupted over Floyd’s death, and committed $1 million to racial equity organizations. Alexia Elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, 19 Aug. 2020 While avowing eternal solidarity with Holocaust survivors and the Jewish people, Abbas mentioned neither Israel’s role in expelling his people nor its failure to guarantee that such a mass expulsion event can never recur. Omri Boehm, The New York Review of Books, 9 June 2020 Prosecutors, who have been criticized in recent weeks for their long inaction despite Mr. Matzneff’s avowed pedophilia, are moving on a separate track that could lead to more criminal charges. Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2020 After the event, Chris Berry — a retired telephone company technician — says without prompting that the topic that stood out most for him was Steyer’s avowed support for slavery reparations. Manuel Roig-franzia, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2020 Prosecutors, who have been criticized in recent weeks for their long inaction despite Matzneff’s avowed pedophilia, are moving on a separate track that could lead to more criminal charges. Norimitsu Onishi, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare to summon
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
avow
verb
ə-ˈvau̇
avowed; avowing
: to declare openly and frankly
I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed his knowledge of the island … Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Islandavowing
verb
1
as in insisting
to state as a fact usually forcefully avowed that the colonization of Mars in our lifetime is not only possible but probable Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- insisting
- alleging
- claiming
- declaring
- asserting
- affirming
- announcing
- professing
- averring
- proclaiming
- maintaining
- contending
- protesting
- arguing
- purporting
- confirming
- reasoning
- defending
- justifying
- warranting
- vindicating
- putting forth
- reaffirming
- avouching
- rationalizing
- broadcasting
- persevering
- upholding
- reasserting
- supporting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denying
- disclaiming
- abandoning
- disavowing
- rejecting
- repudiating
- questioning
- negating
- refuting
- challenging
- gainsaying
- disproving
- disowning
- disputing
- rebutting
- contradicting
- negativing
- countering
- confuting
2
as in declaring
to state clearly and strongly avowed their undying love for each other Synonyms & Similar Words
- declaring
- asserting
- professing
- proclaiming
- announcing
- affirming
- averring
- saying
- explaining
- guaranteeing
- justifying
- promoting
- defending
- pronouncing
- laying down
- emphasizing
- assuring
- upholding
- advocating
- convincing
- advertising
- publicizing
- stressing
- underscoring
- underlining
- avouching
- advancing
- reaffirming
- persuading
- supporting
- reasserting
- accenting
- championing
- blazing
- plugging
- accentuating
- calling
- espousing
- boosting
- rationalizing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimizing
- ignoring
- disregarding
- understating
- neglecting
- overlooking