deny

Say it's untrue

To deny is to declare something untrue or refuse to acknowledge it: He denied the accusations.

You can deny a request by refusing to grant it: The bank denied her loan application.

To deny yourself something is to go without it voluntarily.

In law, defendants deny charges; in psychology, people deny painful realities they can't face.

contradict

refute

Prove something untrue

rebutDisprove by argument
disputeVerbal clash over differences
counterFlat service surface

negate · gainsay · challenge · oppose · contest · disprove · debunk · discredit · controvert · invalidate

disavow

repudiate

Reject as having no authority

renounceFormally give up
disownReject connection to
disclaimDeny connection or responsibility

retract · recant · abjure · forswear · disaffirm · reject · abnegate · walk back · backpedal · unsay

refuse

decline

Decrease or refuse

rejectDismiss as unsuitable
rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
spurnRefuse with contempt

withhold · disallow · prohibit · forbid · ban · block · veto · nix · turn down · say no

deceive

lie

Deliberate falsehood

falsifyDistort the truth
misleadCause false belief
deceiveCause false belief

cover up · conceal · hide · dissemble · prevaricate · misrepresent · distort · fabricate · perjure · fib

psychology

repression

Unconscious blocking of thoughts

suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
defense mechanismUnconscious self-protective mental process

self-deception · rationalization · disavowal · compartmentalization · resistance · unconscious · Freudian · blindspot · willful ignorance · cognitive dissonance

deprive

withhold

Refuse to give

refuseReject or garbage
restrictTo impose limits upon
blockSolid mass, or impede

bar · prevent · exclude · shut out · cut off · starve · dispossess · bereave · strip · divest

Categories

communication verbssay, speak, tell, talk, ask
disagreediffer, dispute, argue, object, contest
keeping outbar, ban, block, lock, fence
opposeoppose, resist, defy, reject, refuse
Response Typesyes, no, maybe, agree, disagree
negative verbsrefuse, reject, decline, forbid, prohibit

Opposites

acknowledgment of truth

Confess or grant entry

acknowledge · confirm · affirm · concede · accept

granting access or permission

Bestow or award money

allow · permit · approve · give · provide

self-admission

Acknowledge wrongdoing openly

admit · own · own up to · acknowledge · avow

Phrases

access deniedEntry permission withheld
deny oneselfRefuse personal gratification
permission deniedAccess refusal message
climate denialRejecting scientific consensus on warming
climate denierOne rejecting greenhouse theory
denial of serviceAttack disabling network access

Family

denial, denied, undeniable, denying, undeniably, denies, denials, deniable, denier

Familiarity: Top 2,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G