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deny definition

deny (dē nī′, di-)

transitive verb denied -·nied′, denying -·ny′·ing

  1. to declare (a statement) untrue; contradict
  2. to refuse to accept as true or right; reject as unfounded, unreal, etc.
  3. to refuse to acknowledge as one's own; disown; repudiate
  4. to refuse the use of or access to
  5. to refuse to grant or give
  6. to refuse the request of (a person)
  7. Obsolete to forbid

Etymology: ME denien < OFr denier < L denegare < de-, intens. + negare, to deny: see negation

deny Idioms

deny oneself

  1. to do without desired things
  2. to abstain from

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law deny definition - legal

deny Synonyms

deny

v.

contradict, dispute, disagree with, disprove, disallow, gainsay, disavow, disclaim, negate, repudiate, contravene, controvert, forswear, revoke, recant, rebut, abnegate, call one a liar, rebuff, withhold, reject, refuse, renounce, discard, not admit, take exception to, disbelieve, spurn, doubt, veto, discredit, dismiss, impugn, confute, nullify, abjure, assert the negative of, say ""no'' to, declare not to be true, refute, disaffirm, refuse to acknowledge, not buy*, give the lie to*; see also confute, recant, refuse.

Antonyms admit*, accept*, affirm.

deny implies a refusal to accept as true, real, valid, existent, or tenable he denied the charge; to gainsay is to dispute what a person says or to challenge the person saying it facts that cannot be gainsaid; contradict not only implies emphatic denial, but, in addition, often suggests belief or evidence that the opposite or contrary is true the facts contradict his statement; impugn implies a direct, forceful attack against that which one calls into question she impugned his motives


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

deny Usage Examples

Object

  • rumor: Saints deny rumors of Fowler play Sun 13 Nov Saints have moved to deny rumors that Robbie Fowler could be joining Southampton on loan.

Modifying Another Word

  • strenuously: The police strenuously deny that there is any evidence to support these claims.

Used with why or when

  • what: The guest can now only confirm or deny what has been said.

Present participle complement

  • murder: George ( 41 ) denies murdering the TV presenter on 26 April 1999.

Preposition: by

  • keeper: Cole went close for Blues but was denied by keeper Smith, and Hucknall pushed forward with Mark Smith prominent.
deny usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

deny quotes

Jesus said unto him,Verily I say unto thee,That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him,Though Ishould die with thee yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

-Bible (NewTestament)

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how hehad said unto him,Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

-Bible (NewTestament)

I can reason down or deny everything, except this perpetual Belly: feed he must and will, and I cannot make him respectable.

-Emerson, RalphWaldo

deny quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"deny." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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deny. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/deny

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