Main Entry: de·ny

Pronunciation: \di-ˈnī, dē-\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): de·nied; de·ny·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French deneier, denier, from Latin denegare, from de- + negare to deny — more at negate

Date: 14th century

1 : to declare untrue <deny an allegation>
2 : to refuse to admit or acknowledge : disavow <deny responsibility>
3 a : to give a negative answer to <denying the petitioners> b : to refuse to grant <deny a request> c : to restrain (oneself) from gratification of desires
4 archaic : decline
5 : to refuse to accept the existence, truth, or validity of

— de·ny·ing·ly \-ˈnī-iŋ-lē\ adverb

synonyms deny, gainsay, contradict, contravene mean to refuse to accept as true or valid. deny implies a firm refusal to accept as true, to grant or concede, or to acknowledge the existence or claims of <denied the charges>. gainsay implies disputing the truth of what another has said <no one can gainsay her claims>. contradict implies an open or flat denial <her account contradicts his>. contravene implies not so much an intentional opposition as some inherent incompatibility <laws that contravene tradition>.