denial
Americannoun
-
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
-
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 that denies 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.
noun
-
a refusal to agree or comply with a statement; contradiction
-
the rejection of the truth of a proposition, doctrine, etc
a denial of God's existence
-
a negative reply; rejection of a request
-
a refusal to acknowledge; renunciation; disavowal
a denial of one's leader
-
a psychological process by which painful truths are not admitted into an individual's consciousness See also defence mechanism
-
abstinence; self-denial
Other Word Forms
- nondenial noun
- predenial adjective
- redenial noun
Etymology
Origin of denial
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Security experts quoted in local reports have long argued that official denials do not necessarily reflect the complexity of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
From BBC
Guildford's retirement came after he admitted inaccuracies in evidence to the committee, including a denial the force had used AI to research evidence, including a non-existent match between the Israeli club and West Ham.
From BBC
“Other people had that idea, and the Speaker has authority over that branch of government and over the Capitol,” said Jackson’s daughter Santita Jackson, responding to the denial of the Rotunda honor.
From Salon
Allen’s platform includes a number of ideas to ensure policyholders are treated better, including requiring insurers to clearly explain claim denials.
From Los Angeles Times
Policyholders shared complaints lodged against State Farm over denials to pay for the cleanup of fire toxins, rebuild estimates well below actual construction costs and delayed checks for living expenses.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
