denial
/dɪˈnaɪəl/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈnaɪəl/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈnī(-ə)l dē-/ (ame, mw)
denial — noun
- denialsingular
- denialsplural
1. A spoken or written reply stating that a claim about a fact or event is wrong.
A spoken or written reply stating that a claim about a fact or event is wrong.
The company issued a strong denial of the news reports about its money problems.
issue + denial of [report/claim]
When the newspaper printed the story, Tuan sent a formal denial to the editor.
formal denial (adjective collocation)
Élise's denial that she had ever met the man seemed very convincing.
The scientist's denial of the test results led to more questions from the team.
- refutation
more formal and technical; implies evidence-based disproving
- contradiction
focuses on asserting the opposite, may not be official
- rebuttal
formal response that argues against a claim in detail
- confirmation
a statement that something is true
- admission
accepting that a claim is true
文法句型
denial of [noun/phrase]
denial that [clause]
make a denial
issue a denial
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific statement. Often used with the verbs issue, make, or publish. The preposition of introduces the thing being denied; a that-clause introduces the denied proposition.
常見錯誤
2. A firm statement that you did not do something that others have accused you of.
A firm statement that you did not do something that others have accused you of.
Walid repeated his denial of the theft, even when shown the security video.
denial + of [crime]
Christopher continued to make denials about breaking the window at school.
make denials about [action]
The teacher accepted Ilan's denial that he had copied from his friend.
Min stood firm in her denial of taking the missing money from the office.
- disavowal
stronger and more formal; implies rejecting any connection or responsibility
- disclaimer
a public statement denying responsibility
- confession
admitting you did something wrong
- admission of guilt
accepting responsibility for wrongdoing
文法句型
denial of [wrongdoing/guilt]
denial that [clause of accusation]
make denials
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about denying personal involvement in an action, not denying the truth of a general fact or claim. The object is typically a wrongdoing (theft, fraud, attack).
常見錯誤
3. A situation where someone says no to a request or does not allow someone to have
A situation where someone says no to a request or does not allow someone to have what they asked for.
The bank's denial of Ada's loan application came as a big disappointment.
denial + of [application/request]
Vinícius's request for extra time off received a brief denial from the manager.
The denial of the building permit stopped their plan to expand the kitchen.
João felt frustrated after the third denial of his visa to study abroad.
文法句型
denial of [request/application]
denial of [right/access/permission]
用法筆記
Common in official and administrative contexts (visa denial, loan denial, permit denial). Less common in everyday refusal situations — for a simple 'no' to an informal request, refusal is more natural.
常見錯誤
4. The condition of not admitting to yourself that a difficult or upsetting fact is
The condition of not admitting to yourself that a difficult or upsetting fact is real.
Obi is in denial about his father's illness, even after the test results came back.
in denial about [unpleasant reality]
After Haruto's wife died, he kept her clothes in the closet and told neighbors she would be back soon.
in denial about death; avoiding reality
Zayd's denial of his drug problem worried his friends and family very much.
After losing his job, Amelia spent months in denial before looking for new work.
The family's denial of their financial trouble only made the situation worse.
- self-deception
the act of making yourself believe something that is not true
- avoidance
keeping away from something unpleasant, broader than psychological denial
- acceptance
the state of recognizing and dealing with reality
- acknowledgment
admitting that something is true or exists
文法句型
in denial (about [subject])
be in denial
denial of [painful truth]
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. The fixed phrase in denial (about + noun/gerund) is the most common pattern. This sense is used in both everyday language and clinical psychology contexts. Unlike sense 1, this cannot be used with a that-clause as a direct grammatical pattern.
常見錯誤
5. A situation in which a person acts against the moral rules or principles that th
A situation in which a person acts against the moral rules or principles that they claim to believe in.
A pacifist joining the army would be a denial of everything they believe in.
a denial of [one's beliefs/principles]
Gita saw her brother's career in advertising as a denial of their family's values.
The politician's support for the polluting factory was a denial of his green promises.
Liang considered his corporate life a denial of the socialist ideals of his youth.
- betrayal
stronger and more emotional; implies disloyalty to people, not just ideas
- abandonment
focuses on giving up beliefs rather than acting against them
文法句型
a denial of [one's principles/values/beliefs]
用法筆記
Typically used in formal or evaluative writing. The object is nearly always an abstract noun: principles, values, beliefs, ideals, promises. Often carries a tone of moral judgment.
6. The practice of choosing not to satisfy your own desires or needs, especially so
The practice of choosing not to satisfy your own desires or needs, especially so that other people can benefit.
The monk's life of denial included giving up all personal possessions and comforts.
life of denial
During the war, citizens lived a life of denial by accepting very small food portions.
Amira's denial of her own comfort to care for her mother was admired by everyone.
During the famine, the villagers practiced strict denial of their personal needs.
- self-denial
the more common compound form; identical meaning
- self-sacrifice
giving up something for others, often with greater personal cost
- abstinence
specifically not doing something (e.g., not drinking alcohol), narrower than denial
- indulgence
allowing yourself pleasures and desires
- self-gratification
seeking to satisfy your own desires
文法句型
denial of [oneself/one's needs]
self-denial
denial as [virtue/practice]
用法筆記
This sense is often expressed as the compound noun self-denial. It carries a positive or noble connotation when the sacrifice is for moral or altruistic reasons. Negative or neutral connotations are more common in the compound form.