deny oneself
idiom
: to not allow oneself to enjoy things or to have the things one wants
On this diet, I don't feel like I'm denying myself.
I'm not denying myself the foods that I love, I'm just eating smaller amounts.
He's always denied himself the simple pleasures in life.
Examples of deny oneself in a Sentence
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Contradiction was merely authentic self-expression, the mark of living fully and refusing to deny oneself.
—
The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
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The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Deny oneself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deny%20oneself. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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