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deny

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of deny

1 to declare not to be true

  • the congressman denied all charges of wrongdoing
Synonyms of deny

contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, repudiate
Words Related to deny

traverse

challenge, confute, disprove, rebut

disagree (with), dispute
Near Antonyms of deny

accept, adopt, embrace, espouse

affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit

authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify
Antonyms of deny

acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own

2 to be unwilling to grant

  • the director denied access to the top secret files to all but those with a need to know
Synonyms of deny

decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withhold
Words Related to deny

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto

rebuff, repel, spurn

check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict

balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct
Near Antonyms of deny

afford, furnish, give, provide, supply

authorize, commission, license (also licence)

accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant

accord, sanction, vouchsafe
Antonyms of deny

allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

3 to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility

  • in a futile attempt to get out of the contract, he even denied his own signature
Synonyms of deny

disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate
Words Related to deny

contradict, disallow, gainsay, negate, negative, refuse, reject

challenge, confute, criticize, disprove, rebut, refute

dispute, question

abdicate, abjure, recant, renounce, retract
Phrases Synonymous with deny

wash one's hands of
Near Antonyms of deny

accept, adopt, embrace, espouse

admit, concede, confess, grant

affirm, announce, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, submit

authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify
Antonyms of deny

acknowledge, avow, claim, own, recognize

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about deny

  1. See words that rhyme with deny Dictionary: Definition of deny Spanish Central: Translation of deny Nglish: Translation of deny for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of deny for Arabic speakers

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