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.

Appealing does appear to pay off: Of the 18% of patients who did appeal, nearly all of them were able to overturn the initial denial of skilled nursing care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

The run-up to the global spectacle has been marked by controversy, including the U.S. denial of participant and fan visas and high ticket prices that have triggered attorney general inquiries in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

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

From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026

A swift denial was issued in a joint statement by Haaland's father and agent, before City rubbished the suggestion.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

It must have been a case of psychological denial.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Vocabulary lists containing denial

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Game Changer

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!