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Webster's New World College Dictionary » in denial
in denial
Variant of denial
denial
definition
de·nial (dē nī′əl, di-)
noun
- the act of denying; a saying “no” (to a request, demand, etc.)
- a statement in opposition to another; contradiction the denial of a rumor
- the act of disowning; repudiation the denial of one's family
- a refusal to believe or accept (a doctrine, etc.)
- 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
- self-denial
- Law the opposing by a defendant of a claim or charge against him or her
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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