denial

Plural: denials

Noun

• 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
• pl. -S the act of denying

Examples

• "Every time we asked for an interview we got a denial."
• "He is in denial that he has a drinking problem."
• "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