affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.
affirmed the existence of an afterlife
protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.
protested that he really had been misquoted
avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.
avowed that all investors would be repaid in full
Example Sentences
avowed that the colonization of Mars in our lifetime is not only possible but probableavowed their undying love for each other
Recent Examples on the WebSupporters 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
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare to summon