in denial

phrase

: refusing to admit the truth or reality of something unpleasant

a patient in denial about his health problems

Examples of in denial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mothers accompanied by their adult children would arrive at the still burning disaster, still in denial that their child had been killed. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026

Her daily life is kept together as a mother, wife and worker who pops pills to keep going, tries self-help, but deep down (maybe not even that deep) is in denial about the gaping hole in her life. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026

Gigot is not wrong that Druckenmiller’s frankness seems almost refreshing in a moment when so much of the writing world is stuck in denial. — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026

The Super Bowl 50 champs were fading slowly in ’17 and ’18, a franchise in denial, drifting without an owner, direction or accountability. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1984, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in denial

• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• vial
• sensorial