1
as in refusal
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
our supervisor's denial of unpaid personal leave got mixed reactions from the staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rejection
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement
the senator issued a flat denial of the accusation against her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of denial
However, Super has drawn complaints over denials tied to preexisting conditions or thin maintenance records.
—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
But an Iranian diplomat promptly rejected this, saying such a visit can only come after a final deal — a denial that highlighted the precariousness of the ongoing negotiations.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Sánchez Bezos has never addressed the rumors, so there’s no confirmation or denial about any cosmetic worse.
—
Stylecaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
24 June 2026
At his shamefaced denial of responsibility.
—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for denial
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
But an Iranian diplomat promptly rejected this, saying such a visit can only come after a final deal — a denial that highlighted the precariousness of the ongoing negotiations.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Sánchez Bezos has never addressed the rumors, so there’s no confirmation or denial about any cosmetic worse.
—
Stylecaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
24 June 2026
At his shamefaced denial of responsibility.
—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for denial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denial
Noun
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The stat might reflect a mere delay rather than a total refusal — Bain’s research suggests most people still get licenses by age 25.
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His refusal to do so jeopardizes public safety.
Noun
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Social and physical pain share overlapping circuitry in the brain, and a large-scale meta-analysis identified the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex as the region most reliably activated by social rejection, the same region most associated with the experience of pain itself.
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At the end of the day, the college audition process has rejection.
Cite this Entry
“Denial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denial. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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