deny

verb

de·​ny di-ˈnī How to pronounce deny (audio)
dē-
denied; denying; denies

transitive verb

1
: to declare (something) to be untrue
They denied the allegations.
2
: to refuse to admit or acknowledge (something) : disavow
denied responsibility for the vandalism
3
a
: to give a negative answer to
denying the petitioners
b
: to refuse to grant
deny a request
was denied a refund
c
: to restrain (oneself) from gratification of desires
unwilling to deny himself the foods that he loves
4
: to refuse to accept the existence, truth, or validity of
There's no denying her expertise.
You can't deny that he's a good singer.
5
medical : to report or note the absence of (a symptom)
The patient denies pruritus …David A. Fisher
6
archaic : decline
denyingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for deny

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

Examples of deny in a Sentence

He denied the report that he would be quitting his job. She denies all the charges that have been made against her. The police deny that racism is a problem in the department. Yes, I was there. I don't deny it. The judge denied their request. a government that denies its citizens basic freedoms
Recent Examples on the Web After that board meeting, before the girl started seventh grade, her parents warned Tadlock and middle school principal Ryan McBurney that denying the student access to the girls' bathrooms would violate federal law. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2024 In 1992, businessman Ross Perot helped Democrat Bill Clinton deny George H.W. Bush a second term. Suhail Bhat, USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024 Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee whose regional assignment includes Idaho, denied each of Creech’s requests for a stay of execution. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 26 Mar. 2024 Pharmaceutical companies denied approval for a drug could use the courts to reverse the agency's scientific judgments -- or challenge the approval of a competitor's drug, former FDA commissioners said in a brief to the high court. Ann E. Marimow and Caroline Kitchener The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Mar. 2024 No one is denying the dire need for affordable housing. Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024 Jackson denied those claims, including during a criminal trial in 2005, which resulted in an acquittal. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel won’t deny the Dolphins have been working through the offseason on a budget. Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2024 All three have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Robert Legare, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deny.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English denien, borrowed from Anglo-French denier, deneier (also continental Old French), from de- de- (reinforcing the meaning of the base verb) + nier "to renounce, deny, refuse" (after Latin dēnegāre "to deny"), going back to Latin negāre "to say (with the negative of a conjoined clause), deny, say no" — more at negate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deny was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near deny

Cite this Entry

“Deny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deny. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deny

verb
de·​ny di-ˈnī How to pronounce deny (audio)
denied; denying
1
: to declare not to be true : contradict
deny a report
2
: to refuse to grant
deny a request
3
: to refuse to accept the existence or truth of

Legal Definition

deny

transitive verb
de·​ny
denied; denying
1
: to declare untrue
a party must…admit or deny the allegationsFederal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 8(b)
compare avoid
2
: to refuse to grant
denied the motion for a new trial

More from Merriam-Webster on deny

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