What does "denial" mean?
An assertion of untruth.
Denial
/dɪˈnaɪ.əl/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An assertion of untruth.
- Grammar: denial is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abjuration, abjurement, abnegation, abnegation.
- Useful contrasts: administrative act, formal permission, official sanction.
- Usage evidence: The police didn't believe his denial.
How to use "denial"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "denial" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "denial" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "denial" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "denial" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "denial" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abjuration" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "denial", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An assertion of untruth. countable, uncountable
"The singer has issued a sweeping denial of all the rumors."
- 2 renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others wordnet
- 3 The negation in logic. countable, uncountable
"The denial of "There might be X" is the null, "False, there is no X.""
- 4 a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against them wordnet
- 5 A refusal or failure to provide or grant something that is requested or desired. countable, uncountable
"The denial of medical treatment to those who cannot afford to pay is scandalous."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 the act of asserting that something alleged is not true wordnet
- 7 Refusal to believe that a problem exists. countable, uncountable
"We couldn't break through his denial about being alcoholic."
- 8 the act of refusing to comply (as with a request) wordnet
- 9 Refusal to admit responsibility for wrongdoing. countable, uncountable
"Denial is the first act when the perpetrator refutes the very nature of the planned measures, explaining the steps as justified and legitimate actions to cope with the identified problem. The denial then lives on during the different stages of the genocide and is invoked continuously by the perpetrator whenever its actions are criticized or labeled as atrocities and unlawful. At the end, once the practical stages have had their course, all that remains and thrives is the denial."
- 10 (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts wordnet
- 11 Negationism, denialism of historical facts or accepted interpretation. countable, uncountable
"The sheer length of the list demonstrates the hold denial wields over states and societies, a power that may be best understood empirically by delving further into the two best-documented cases of Holocaust and Armenian [genocide] denial."
- 12 A defense mechanism involving a refusal to accept the truth of a phenomenon or prospect. countable, uncountable
"He is in denial that he has a drinking problem."
- 13 A disownment or disavowal countable, uncountable
"The denial of Jesus by Peter."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
administrative actformal permissionofficial sanctionofficial seal
Example
"The police didn't believe his denial."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "denial"?
Common synonyms include: abjuration, abjurement, abnegation, abnegation, abrogation, absolute contradiction.
How do you use "denial" in a sentence?
The police didn't believe his denial.
How do you pronounce "denial"?
Pronounced /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/.
Etymology
From deny + -al.