Synonyms for gainsay
Most common
deny contradict refute impugn nay-say
All synonyms
Verb
1. Deny
deny, contradict, dispute, refute, impugn, repudiate, oppose, challenge, contravene, controvert
Other
nay-say, withsay dated
Definitions
- v. 1
To say something in contradiction to.
Forms
- Past participle
- gainsaid
e.g. gainsaid → denied, contradicted, disputed, refuted…
Example sentences
- deny You can't deny the fact that she had a hand in it.
- contradict Let our action never contradict what we have said.
- refute It is much harder to refute a lie than to tell one.
- impugn The father does not impugn her ability to be a good mother.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| gainsay | steady | |
| deny | steady | |
| contradict | rising | |
| refute | steady | |
| impugn | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- deny2
- 6 letters
- oppose2, refute2, impugn2
- 7 letters
- dispute2, withsay
- 9 letters
- challenge2, repudiate4
- 10 letters
- contradict3, contravene3, controvert
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (deny2 = 2 syllables).