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.

There’s also the personal pain of realizing that your husband’s “love” may not be as advertised, making it easier to live in denial.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Antisemitism includes Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories about Jewish power and acts of exclusion or violence targeting Jewish people.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

There’s so much shame and confusion on the part of the person who needs help, and sometimes there’s denial that anything bad is happening.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

In his statement, Mills does not address the substance of the allegations, provide any further detail about them or offer a denial.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

“There’s still a lot of denial out there.”

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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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