deny

1 to declare not to be true <the congressman denied all charges of wrongdoing> Synonyms contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, repudiate Related Words traverse; challenge, confute, disprove, rebut; disagree (with), dispute Near Antonyms accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify Antonyms acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

2 to be unwilling to grant <the director denied access to the top secret files to all but those with a need to know> Synonyms decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withhold Related Words ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct Near Antonyms afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafe Antonyms allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

3 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility <in a futile attempt to get out of the contract, he even denied his own signature> Synonyms disclaim, disavow, disown, repudiateRelated Words contradict, disallow, gainsay, negate, negative, refuse, reject; challenge, confute, criticize, disprove, rebut, refute; dispute, question; abdicate, abjure, recant, renounce, retractNear Antonyms accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; admit, concede, confess, grant; affirm, announce, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, submit; authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verifyAntonyms acknowledge, avow, claim, own, recognize