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.

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

But when asked whether he wanted to be a substitute for Merz, he reportedly responded only that he was "not a good football player", without issuing a firm denial.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

“Every day seems to bring another cease-fire rumor, another missile headline, another draft memorandum, another denial, and another market reversal.”

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Dealing with this system on its own terms is complicated by the problem of denial.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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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