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

Explanation

A denial is a refusal, and often means a refusal to believe or accept something as the truth. "When asked if he ate the powdered doughnut, he gave a flat denial. Since his face was covered with powdered sugar, the denial was ludicrous." To be "in denial" is to be fooling yourself about the reality of your situation. If you stay up late watching TV on the eve of your AP Biology final, you are probably in denial about your lack of preparation for the test. Now, "self-denial is a whole other thing; that is when someone puts others first: "During the drought, Mary made sure all her neighbors had enough water and she lived in a state of self-denial — relying on Mountain Dew as her only source of hydration."

Example Sentences

The building of the case is well done but what’s most memorable is the impenetrable brick wall of denial constructed by Shirilla’s family and friends in the face of that evidence.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Chloe described her grief as constant but ever-changing, moving between denial and acceptance rather than following a "linear" path.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

"We have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh's motion for a new trial due to Hill's improper external influence on the jury."

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

But they are not entitled to that level of denial.

From Slate • May 8, 2026

At the same time, the Academy seemed to embrace an institutional denial that what we were being taught to do had a moral aspect.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

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