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.

Rights groups also weighed in, describing the denial of access as "alarming" for media freedom in Turkey.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

Staff also reported "a culture of organisational denial" over years, where poor outcomes "were regularly dismissed as 'known complications".

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Only after the report came out and sparked a frenzy was there a firm denial:

From Slate • Jun. 23, 2026

“Assertions made by the prosecutor…of consistent categorical denial are devoid of credibility,” the report states.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026

And there was something cowardly in his not telling Kosi again that he wanted a divorce, in his leaning back into the ease of Kosi’s denial.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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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