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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deny differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deny are contradict, contravene, and gainsay. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use contradict instead of deny?

The meanings of contradict and deny largely overlap; however, contradict implies an open or flat denial.

her account contradicts his

When can contravene be used instead of deny?

The words contravene and deny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contravene implies not so much an intentional opposition as some inherent incompatibility.

laws that contravene tradition

When could gainsay be used to replace deny?

The synonyms gainsay and deny are sometimes interchangeable, but gainsay implies disputing the truth of what another has said.

no one can gainsay her claims

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deny The longtime Israeli leader, who has denied all allegations, is due to return to court on Monday. Mandy Taheri hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 Tucker denied all allegations of misconduct in a statement on X on Jan. 30. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 27 June 2025 Older workers are often denied opportunities due to age stereotypes and assumptions that overlook their experiences and career aspirations. Sheila Callaham, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 Trump and other officials doubled down on claims Abrego Garcia was in the MS-13 gang, an accusation that Abrego Garcia denies. Ben Finley, Fortune, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for deny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deny
Verb
  • But DeGeneres ultimately refuted the claims that savaged her career.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 23 June 2025
  • State-run news agency Xinhua on Friday refuted claims that regions had canceled the subsidies.
    Bernice Ooi, CNBC, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The Trump administration has tested the limits of this system by refusing to spend money that Congress had previously allocated.
    Camila Domonoske, NPR, 25 June 2025
  • The film follows the young singer Seti, who refuses to accept the fact that women in Iran are not allowed to perform in public.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • This can manifest into an AI tool that ends up rejecting qualified job candidates because it was trained on biased data.
    Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • That kind of backlash prompted officials in La Mesa, Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad to reject digital billboard proposals.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Phone records contradicted that story, showing the pair was frequently in the same location in the 10-day period leading up to Gibson’s death, according to police.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025
  • This advice may seem to contradict much advice (including my own) about setting boundaries.
    Hanna Hart, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • LeBron James already opted in to a $52.6 million deal with the Lakers for next season, the Rockets traded for Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise.
    Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025
  • Three players ultimately declined to participate this time around: Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Barry Bonds.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Because the movie doesn’t convincingly disavow materialism (at least as embodied by Pascal), the main character’s choice to do so feels didactic and contrived.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • In the aftermath of abolition/compensation, forgetting or disavowing the centuries of slavery became the primary take.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deny. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on deny

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