denial
Other forms: denials
A denial is a refusal, and often means a refusal to believe or accept something as the truth. "When asked if he ate the powdered doughnut, he gave a flat denial. Since his face was covered with powdered sugar, the denial was ludicrous."
To be "in denial" is to be fooling yourself about the reality of your situation. If you stay up late watching TV on the eve of your AP Biology final, you are probably in denial about your lack of preparation for the test. Now, "self-denial is a whole other thing; that is when someone puts others first: "During the drought, Mary made sure all her neighbors had enough water and she lived in a state of self-denial — relying on Mountain Dew as her only source of hydration."
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renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others
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synonyms:
abnegation, self-abnegation, self-denial, self-renunciation
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type of:
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forgoing, forswearing, renunciation
the act of renouncing; sacrificing or giving up or surrendering (a possession or right or title or privilege etc.)
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self-sacrifice, selflessness
acting with less concern for yourself than for the success of the joint activity
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forgoing, forswearing, renunciation
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the act of asserting that something alleged is not true
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synonyms:
disaffirmation
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types:
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negation
the speech act of negating
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contradiction
the speech act of contradicting someone
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cancellation
the speech act of revoking or annulling or making void
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type of:
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assertion, asseveration, averment
a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
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negation
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the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)“it resulted in a complete denial of his privileges”
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types:
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abnegation
the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief
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naysaying
the act of saying no to a request
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negative
a reply of denial
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refusal
the act of refusing
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disavowal, disclaimer
denial of any connection with or knowledge of
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no
a negative
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nay
a negative
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double negative
a grammatically substandard but emphatic negative
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repudiation
refusal to acknowledge or pay a debt or honor a contract (especially by public authorities)
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abjuration, recantation, retraction
a disavowal or taking back of a previous assertion
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prohibition
refusal to approve or assent to
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type of:
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speech act
the use of language to perform some act
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a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
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Antonyms:
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criminal prosecution, prosecution
the institution and conduct of legal proceedings against a defendant for criminal behavior
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types:
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entrapment
a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials
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type of:
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due process, due process of law
(law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards
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criminal prosecution, prosecution
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(psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
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type of:
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defence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defense mechanism, defense reaction
(psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
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defence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense, defense mechanism, defense reaction
/dɪˈnaɪəl/
/dɪˈnaɪəl/
Vocabulary lists containing denial
Along with the ups and downs of seventh grade, Ross Maloy must deal with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Keiko has always counted on her best friends, Audrey and Jenna — but the girls' friendship is tested as they navigate seventh grade.
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