What does "gainsay" mean?

To say something in contradiction to.

What is a synonym for "gainsay"?

Common synonyms include: challenge, dispute, abjure, assert the contrary, be contrary to, belie.

Gainsay

//ɡeɪnˈseɪ// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Verb

1
To say something in contradiction to. formal, transitive
"[…]vve are able with playne demonſtration to proue, and vvith reaſon to perſvvade that in tymes paſt our fayth vvas alike, that then vve preached thinges correſpondent vnto the forme of faith already publiſhed of vs, ſo that none in this behalfe can repyne or gayneſay vs."
2
take exception to wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

challenge dispute abjure assert the contrary be contrary to belie

Example

More examples

"We cannot gainsay that he is honest."

Etymology

From Middle English gainsayen, ȝeinseggen (“to say against, say in opposition to”), equivalent to gain- + say. Compare Old Danish gensige (“to speak against; gainsay”), Swedish gensaga (“a speaking against; protest”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.