deny

[dih-nahy]

verb (used with object)

denied, denying 

1. to state that (something declared or believed to be true) is not true.

   to deny an accusation.

   Synonyms: gainsay, oppose, controvert, dispute
   Antonyms: concede, accept, admit

2. to refuse to agree or accede to.

   to deny a petition.

3. to withhold the possession, use, or enjoyment of.

   to deny access to secret information.

   Antonyms: allow

4. to withhold something from, or refuse to grant a request of.

   to deny a beggar.

5. to refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disown; disavow; repudiate.

   to deny one's gods.

   Synonyms: abjure, renounce

6. to withhold (someone) from accessibility to a visitor.

   The secretary denied his employer to all those without appointments.

7. Obsolete.,  to refuse to take or accept.

deny

/ dɪˈnaɪ /

verb

1. to declare (an assertion, statement, etc) to be untrue

   he denied that he had killed her

2. to reject as false; refuse to accept or believe

3. to withhold; refuse to give

4. to refuse to fulfil the requests or expectations of

   it is hard to deny a child

5. to refuse to acknowledge or recognize; disown; disavow

   the baron denied his wicked son

6. to refuse (oneself) things desired

Other Word Forms

• denyingly adverb
• predeny verb (used with object)
• redeny verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of deny¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English denien, from Old French denier, from Latin dēnegāre; denegation

Word History and Origins

Origin of deny¹

C13: from Old French denier, from Latin dēnegāre, from negāre

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. deny oneself, to refrain from satisfying one's desires or needs; practice self-denial.

Synonym Study

Deny, contradict both imply objecting to or arguing against something. To deny is to say that something is not true: to deny an allegation. To contradict is to declare that the contrary is true: to contradict a statement.

Example Sentences

Lara granted the company an emergency 17% rate hike in May despite complaints by Eaton and Palisades policyholders that the company was delaying claims, paying too little and outright denying them.

From Los Angeles Times

Agents regarded these moves as a purge, and press reports claimed that bureau morale was at an all-time low, charges that Gray denied.

From Salon

The company said customers knew about the occupancy condition when booking, and the company denies targeting or harming anyone, adding that it advised some clients not to sell homes to pay deposits.

From BBC

Saudi Arabia has rejected that report, and the crown prince, who is effectively the kingdom's ruler, has denied any role in the murder.

From BBC

But by and large, after those months in the public eye, Gisèle was able to regain the privacy she had been denied for so long.

From BBC

Related Words

• ban 
• call on 
• contradict 
• oppose 
• rebuff 
• refuse 
• refute 
• reject 
• revoke 
• turn down 
• withhold