denial

American  

[dih-nahy-uhl] / dɪˈnaɪ əl /

noun

1. an assertion that something said, believed, alleged, etc., is false.

   Despite his denials, we knew he had taken the purse. The politician issued a denial of his opponent's charges.

   Synonyms:

   repudiation , disclaimer , disavowal

   Antonyms:

   confession , acknowledgment , admission

2. refusal to believe a doctrine, theory, or the like.

3. disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing.

4. the refusal to satisfy a claim, request, desire, etc., or the refusal of a person making it.

5. refusal to recognize or acknowledge; a disowning or disavowal.

   the traitor's denial of his country; Peter's denial of Christ.

6. Law.  refusal to acknowledge the validity of a claim, suit, or the like; a plea that denies allegations of fact in an adversary's plea.

   Although she sued for libel, he entered a general denial.

7. sacrifice of one's own wants or needs; self-denial.

8. Psychology.  an unconscious defense mechanism used to reduce anxiety by denying thoughts, feelings, or facts that are consciously intolerable.

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denial British  

/ dɪˈnaɪəl /

noun

1. a refusal to agree or comply with a statement; contradiction

2. the rejection of the truth of a proposition, doctrine, etc

   a denial of God's existence

3. a negative reply; rejection of a request

4. a refusal to acknowledge; renunciation; disavowal

   a denial of one's leader

5. a psychological process by which painful truths are not admitted into an individual's consciousness See also defence mechanism

6. abstinence; self-denial

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Other Word Forms

• nondenial noun
• predenial adjective
• redenial noun

Etymology

Origin of denial

First recorded in 1520–30; deny + -al ²

Example Sentences

His pro bono lawyers have appealed the asylum denial.

From Los Angeles Times

Since New Jersey resident Natalie Jeremias, 50, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis earlier this year, she has struggled with getting treatments because of insurance denials and high deductibles.

From The Wall Street Journal

After months of denials Doyle changed his pleas to guilty at Liverpool Crown Court, moments before the prosecution was set to open its case.

From BBC

“It would be a gross understatement and a blatant denial to refer to serious and sustained attacks against religious communities in Nigeria of this magnitude as anything but acts of religious persecution,” U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

His second son would later go with his father’s friend to the ICE facility in Dallas to collect his belongings, obtaining the green card denial letter and detention notice dated Sept. 22 in the process.

From Salon

Related Words

• disapproval
• rebuttal
• rejection
• repudiation
• retraction
• veto