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

There’s also the personal pain of realizing that your husband’s “love” may not be as advertised, making it easier to live in denial.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Antisemitism includes Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories about Jewish power and acts of exclusion or violence targeting Jewish people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

There’s so much shame and confusion on the part of the person who needs help, and sometimes there’s denial that anything bad is happening.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

The news follows a Monday denial of negotiations from a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

“But destruction of property . . .” I set my jaw hard and shook my head in denial.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

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