denial

[ dih-nahy-uhl ]

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.

denial

/ 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

Other Words From

• nonde·nial noun
• prede·nial adjective
• rede·nial noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of denial¹

First recorded in 1520–30; deny + -al ²

Example Sentences

So there was a lot of empty denials and hand-waving about the inevitable — and expected — outcome of women dying.

From Salon

The fossil fuel industry, for example, has a history of promoting climate change denial while proposing solutions to climate change that do not involve phasing out fossil fuels.

From Salon

For Mwape, he hopes his openness about his son’s problems will not only help his own family but others too - and stop the country living in denial.

From BBC

A film about complicity and denial, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” examines how a seemingly reasonable husband and wife can tacitly support this national charade.

From Los Angeles Times

“The issue with RFK goes far beyond vaccines, vaccines are the tip of the iceberg — an iceberg that represents a nihilism or denial of medicine and public health.”

From Salon

Related Words

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