gainsay
/ˈɡeɪnˌseɪ/
Group 8Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To deny or contradict; to speak against or oppose GRE
Example in Context
Even the administration's most vocal critics could not gainsay the effectiveness of the emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Synonyms
denycontradictdispute
Etymology
To say something against, to contradict.
- gain- (Old English) — against
- saga (Old English) — to say
Memory Aid
🗣️Sounds like “gain say”
If you GAIN SAY the truth, you might as well GAIN a mouthful of soap!
Visual Association
🤥A cartoon character with a long nose, denying something obvious while standing in a puddle of lies.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Confusable Pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “gainsay” mean on the GRE?
gainsay (verb) means “To deny or contradict; to speak against or oppose”. Even the administration's most vocal critics could not gainsay the effectiveness of the emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
How to remember “gainsay” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “gainsay” sounds like “gain say”. If you GAIN SAY the truth, you might as well GAIN a mouthful of soap!
What are synonyms for “gainsay”?
Common synonyms: deny, contradict, dispute.