denying
Withholding the truth
Denying is refusing to acknowledge something as true or valid.
A person denies an accusation, a request, or their own feelings.
She kept denying any involvement.
To deny someone something is to withhold it: The judge denied bail.
Denying can also mean suppressing or rejecting part of oneself: He's been denying his true nature for years.
Formal refusal to accept
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
- disowningFormally rejecting association
- disclaimingDenying connection or responsibility
- retractionFormal withdrawal of statement
recantation · abjuration · negation · refutation · disaffirmation · rejection · abnegation · revocation
Denial of acceptance
- declineDecrease or refuse
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- turndownAct of declining
- withholdingKeeping from another
veto · prohibition · forbidding · disallowing · dismissal · spurning · interdiction · nix
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
minimization · defensiveness · compartmentalization · dissociation · blocking · evasion · escapism · disassociation
Rejection of truth claims
- doubtLack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- incredulityInability to accept something
- distrustAbsence of confidence
suspicion · disputing · challenging · contesting · doubting · mistrusting · discrediting · debunking
Capacity to withstand force
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- recalcitranceStubborn refusal to obey
obstinacy · intransigence · stubbornness · contrariness · dissent · rebellion · insubordination · willfulness
repudiation
Formal refusal to accept
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
- disowningFormally rejecting association
- disclaimingDenying connection or responsibility
retraction · recantation · abjuration · negation · refutation · disaffirmation · rejection · abnegation · revocation · contradiction
rejection
Denial of acceptance
withholding · veto · prohibition · forbidding · disallowing · dismissal · spurning · interdiction · nix · blocking
repression
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- suppressionForcible prevention or concealment
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
rationalization · minimization · defensiveness · compartmentalization · dissociation · blocking · evasion · escapism · disassociation · deflection
disbelief
Rejection of truth claims
- doubtLack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- incredulityInability to accept something
distrust · suspicion · disputing · challenging · contesting · doubting · mistrusting · discrediting · debunking · disproving
resistance
Capacity to withstand force
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
recalcitrance · obstinacy · intransigence · stubbornness · contrariness · dissent · rebellion · insubordination · willfulness · contumacy
- verbal responsesreplying, responding, retorting, confirming, agreeing
- repudiatingrenouncing, disclaiming, rejecting, disavowing, disowning
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- manipulationgaslighting, guilt tripping, blame-shifting, brainwashing, guilt trip
- gaming tacticsflanking, positioning, baiting, rushing, turtling
- certaintycertain, sure, uncertain, unsure, definite
denyingadmitting
Confessing or granting entry
confessing · acknowledging · confirming · affirming · conceding
denyinggranting
Giving formally or officially
permitting · allowing · approving · giving · authorizing
denyingindulging
Satisfying a craving
gratifying · satisfying · spoiling · pampering · treating
deny, denial, denied, undeniable, undeniably, denies, denier