denial

[ dih-nahy-uhl ]

/ dɪˈnaɪ əl /

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See synonyms for denial on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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

disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing.

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

refusal to recognize or acknowledge; a disowning or disavowal: the traitor's denial of his country; Peter's denial of Christ.

Law. refusal to acknowledge the validity of a claim, suit, or the like; a plea thatdenies allegations of fact in an adversary's plea: Although she sued for libel, he entered a general denial.

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

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

OTHER WORDS FOR denial

1 disavowal, disclaimer, repudiation.

See synonyms for denial on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR denial

1 admission, acknowledgment, confession.

See antonyms for denial on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of denial

First recorded in 1520–30; deny + -al²

OTHER WORDS FROM denial

non·de·ni·al, nounpre·de·ni·al, adjectivere·de·ni·al, noun

Words nearby denial

Denham, Den Helder, deni, deniability, deniable, denial, denialism, denialist, denial-of-service, denial-of-service attack, denied

How to use denial in a sentence

What should be open and shut — an airtight case of inciting an insurrection — has become yet another exercise in disingenuous denial.
Stop trying to save the GOP. It’s hopeless.|Jennifer Rubin|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The managers, as they indicated, will therefore urge the senators to make the “adverse inference” that his denials laid out in his defense brief are false.
Republicans can run from accountability, but they can’t hide|Jennifer Rubin|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
Bryant said the city plans to apply for another round of relief money, probably early this year, but he worries about another denial.
How the CARES Act Forgot America’s Most Vulnerable Hospitals|by Brianna Bailey, The Frontier|January 26, 2021|ProPublica
He’s in denial, or out of sorts, or thinking he’ll get around to it eventually, or whatever.
Carolyn Hax: Husband didn’t share his dad’s cancer diagnosis for a year|Carolyn Hax|January 26, 2021|Washington Post

One of the ways we push away that knowledge is with straight-up denial.
Aubrey Gordon, the writer behind ‘Your Fat Friend,’ has some thoughts on diets, BMI and the relentless advice of strangers|Dawn Fallik|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
But what can be done, if climate denial is, in part, a religious belief?
Extreme Weather? Blame the End Times|Jay Michaelson|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But if religious beliefs are fueling climate denial, then religious approaches are necessary to oppose it.
Extreme Weather? Blame the End Times|Jay Michaelson|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A better taxonomy would break us up by words like Acceptance, Partial Denial, and Total Denial.
Extreme Weather? Blame the End Times|Jay Michaelson|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a case where delay is denial—with potentially deadly results.
My Insurance Company Killed Me, Despite Obamacare|Malcolm MacDougall|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
About 300,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, and their relationship to the state is an almost perfect dance of denial.
After the Israel Synagogue Massacre: A New Intifada?|Michael Tomasky|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I should judge your hens ain't layin' well, figurin' on the size of the basket," said the old man, ignoring her denial.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
And she saw at once that he had done nothing of the sort; saw it without any more decisive denial.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
A stronger man would have fought against odds like those and won for himself a place that would suffer no denial.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
But valiant as their denial, the Chesters watched the surveyors depart with sore misgivings.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
Infidels feel the power of this manifestation of God in His word; and are driven to every possible denial of the fact.
Gospel Philosophy|J. H. Ward

British Dictionary definitions for denial

denial

/ (dɪˈnaɪəl) /

noun

a refusal to agree or comply with a statement; contradiction

the rejection of the truth of a proposition, doctrine, etca denial of God's existence

a negative reply; rejection of a request

a refusal to acknowledge; renunciation; disavowala denial of one's leader

a psychological process by which painful truths are not admitted into an individual's consciousnessSee also defence mechanism

abstinence; self-denial

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

denial

OTHER WORDS FOR denial

OPPOSITES FOR denial

Origin of denial

OTHER WORDS FROM denial

Words nearby denial

Words related to denial

How to use denial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for denial