Definitions

denial

[dih-nahy-uhl] / dɪˈnaɪ əl /

NOUN

dismissal, refusal of belief in

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disapproval rebuttal rejection repudiation retraction veto

STRONG

adjuration brush-off contradiction declination disavowal disclaimer disproof dissent forswearing nay negation negative nix nonacceptance prohibition protestation rebuff refutal refutation renouncement renunciation repulse turndown

WEAK

abstaining cold shoulder controversion disallowance dismissing gainsaying noncommittal refraining refusing rejecting renegement repudiating statement abnegation

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allowance approval confirmation ratification sanction

STRONG

agreement permission

WEAK

affirmation avowal claim corroboration vouching

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.

At the weekend, the International Sports Press Association complained about "a long-standing and unacceptable problem for us journalists - the denial of entry visas to regularly accredited colleagues".

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

City authorities have cited the obscure commission’s denial as reason for not moving forward even though the City Council voted in favor of the project.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

A consular denial, meanwhile, is almost impossible to contest.

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

As my colleague Mary O’Grady quipped at the time, denial ain’t just a river in Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

Mom said they did it because they were in denial, that they still felt so guilty about sending you away they needed to ignore what happened to you.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy

Vocabulary lists containing denial

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

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Game Changer

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