denial

Plural: denials

Noun

• The act of declaring something untrue or refusing to acknowledge it.
• the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)
  • "it resulted in a complete denial of his privileges"
• the act of asserting that something alleged is not true
• (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
• renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others
• a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
• An assertion of untruth.
• The negation in logic.
• A refusal or failure to provide or grant something that is requested or desired.
• Refusal to believe that a problem exists.
• Refusal to admit responsibility for wrongdoing.
• Negationism, denialism of historical facts or accepted interpretation.
• A defense mechanism involving a refusal to accept the truth of a phenomenon or prospect.
• A disownment or disavowal

Examples

• Every time we asked for an interview we got a denial.
• He is in denial that he has a drinking problem.
• His denial of using a word helper was met with skeptical glances from other players.
• I cannot understand the bank's denial of my loan application.
• The denial of "There might be X" is the null, "False, there is no X."
• The denial of Jesus by Peter.
• The denial of medical treatment to those who cannot afford to pay is scandalous.
• The singer has issued a sweeping denial of all the rumors.
• We couldn't break through his denial about being alcoholic.

Synonyms

abnegation, defence, defense, demurrer, disaffirmation, self-abnegation, self-denial, self-renunciation

Antonyms

prosecution

Related Words

denier, deny