deny

verb

de·​ny di-ˈnī 

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

di-ˈnī-iŋ-lē 

dē-

adverb

Synonyms

• contradict
• disaffirm
• disallow
• disavow
• disclaim
• disconfirm
• disown
• gainsay
• negate
• negative
• refute
• reject
• repudiate

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

The state Department of Administration Bureau of State Risk Management denied it on the basis that piers are no longer covered. —Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

Prosecutors will still be able to weigh in and judges continue to hold the authority to grant or deny those requests. —The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2024

Attorneys said the seventh inmate listed as a plaintiff was locked in a shower stall and denied basic necessities. —Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024

The attempt to allow Bob Baffert to run a horse in this year’s Kentucky Derby was denied in a ruling on Thursday, possibly ending a last-ditch effort by owner Amr Zedan to get Arkansas Derby winner Muth into Churchill Downs. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

San Diego Superior Court Judge Jay Bloom denied his petition for release in 2021. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024

The District Court denied Jones’ claim, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision, siding with Jones. —The Arizona Republic, 18 Apr. 2024

The Masters dubiously said 2009 champion Angel Cabrera could play, but his visa was denied. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2024

Hamas has denied hiding in hospitals and other civilian structures and CNN cannot independently verify either claim. —Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

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

Phrases Containing deny

• deny oneself
• grant/deny access to

Kids Definition

deny

verb

de·​ny di-ˈnī 

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 allegations

—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 8(b)

compare avoid

2

: to refuse to grant

denied the motion for a new trial