Synonyms of denial

denial

noun

di-ˈnī(-ə)l 

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

• refusal
• rejection
• nonacceptance
• no
• disallowance
• declination
• injunction
• nay
• repudiation
• suppression
• turndown
• rebuff
• veto
• repression
• repulse
• discouragement
• ban
• deterrence
• spurn
• negative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approval
• grant
• allowance
• acceptance
• agreement
• consent
• permission
• sanction
• license
• authorization
• clearance
• assent
• leave
• acquiescence
• concurrence
• OK
• accession
• signature
• seal
• stamp
• sufferance
• imprimatur

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

• rejection
• disavowal
• contradiction
• repudiation
• negation
• disallowance
• refutation
• disclaimer
• denegation
• rebuttal
• disconfirmation
• disproof
• negative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confirmation
• admission
• acknowledgment
• confession
• declaration
• concession
• affirmation
• assertion
• testimony
• avowal
• documentation
• validation
• testament
• corroboration
• substantiation
• attestation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of denial

On Friday, Yabloko’s leader appealed to Ella Pamfilova, head of the Central Election Commission, over what the party said were numerous denials of entry to its observers and pressure on them. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

They cannot be expected to accept the denial of Jewish self-determination. — Marc Schneier, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Unfortunately, Madeline’s — and Victor’s — denials fell on deaf ears. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2026

About a third of mortgage denials for primary home purchases with conventional loans in 2025 were due to a lack of credit history, according to Zillow’s analysis of 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026