denial Hear it!

denial Definition

de·nial (dē nī′əl, di-)

noun

  1. the act of denying; a saying “no” (to a request, demand, etc.)
  2. a statement in opposition to another; contradiction the denial of a rumor
  3. the act of disowning; repudiation the denial of one's family
  4. a refusal to believe or accept (a doctrine, etc.)
  5. Psychol. an unconscious thought process whereby one allays anxiety by refusing to acknowledge the existence of certain unpleasant aspects of external reality or of one's thoughts, feelings, etc.: now often in the phrase in denial
  6. self-denial
  7. Law the opposing by a defendant of a claim or charge against him or her
denial Synonyms

denial

n.

  1. Refusal to recognize a situation

    disavowal, forswearing, repudiation, contradiction, disclaiming, disclaimer, abnegation, rejection, refutation, negation, retraction, recantation, dismissal, renunciation, dismissing, disowning, disaffirmation, refusal to recognize, refusal to acknowledge, disbelief.

    Antonyms acknowledgment*, avowal*, confession. *

  2. Refusal to give consent

    rejection, veto, dissent, disapproval; see opposition 2, refusal.

denial Law Definition

n

In litigation, a rejection of a claim or request; an assertion in a pleading rejecting facts asserted by the other party in its own pleading.
general denial
A response that questions all of the material accusations in a petition or complaint.
specific denial
A separate response to several of the plaintiff’s charges individually denying them, while not denying all of them.
denial Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • attack: Some denial of service attacks exist due to buggy software.
  • crucifixion: The Islamic denial of the crucifixion derives directly from a this-worldly view of the " kingdom of God " and of salvation.
  • authorship: I did four cases that involved denial of authorship of an incriminating document: a letter, or an entry in a diary.
  • liberty: For that reason, we see attacks on our parades as both a denial of civil liberties and an attack on our religion.
  • allegation: I can therefore only repeat my vigorous denials of the allegations which were issued at the outset of this case.
  • doctrine: Certainly, the denial of this doctrine has huge practical consequences, not least in education.

Converse of object

  • distribute: A distributed denial of service attack on the NHL Web site took it off the air for several days, 21 through 25 May.
  • constitute: The claim to universality and the isolated abstract individual presupposed by such economics constitutes a denial of interdependence and impermanence.
  • assume: Health insurance coverage assumes that denial than percent of.
  • launch: Initial versions of Code Red, released in July 2001 attempted to launch a denial of service attack on the whitehouse.gov Website.

Adjective modifier

  • vehement: However with two other players receiving the same message later in the night and their vehement denials further investigation was required.
  • outright: This is an outright denial of the teaching of Christ, the teaching of the apostles.
  • strenuous: Now go away. The Palace quickly issued a strenuous denial.
  • repeated: He suggested that despite Baghdad's repeated denials, the government still had time to change its mind.
  • vigorous: I can therefore only repeat my vigorous denials of the allegations which were issued at the outset of this case.
  • utter: Gordon and his muppets at the BoE seem to be in complete and utter denial.

Noun used with modifier

  • holocaust: Holocaust denial per se is not an offense in the United Kingdom.
  • visa: In either case of visa denial, the insurance premium is fully refundable.
  • self: Pointing me at the retailer is fair but denying any problems smacks of self denial.
denial Quotes

Qui timide rogat, docet negare. Who makes timid requests, invites denial.

—Seneca full name Lucius AnnaeusSeneca called theYounger