1
as in refusal
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
our supervisor's denial of unpaid personal leave got mixed reactions from the staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rejection
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement
the senator issued a flat denial of the accusation against her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of denial
Grief isn’t a set of stages Many people still think of grief through the lens of psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ five stages of grief, popularized in the early 1970s: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
—
Liza Barros-Lane, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
Silence and denial also mark the opening event of the novel, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in the wake of which Mitch returns to Japan.
—Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Perhaps not coincidentally, Alabama also had the highest denial rates for in-network claims by insurers on the individual marketplace in 2023, according to a KFF analysis: 34%.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 15 July 2025
In the newest chapter in the struggle to preserve Oak Flat, currently a campground about 60 miles east of Phoenix, grassroots group Apache Stronghold asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its past denial and agree to hear what many religious leaders call a pivotal religious rights case.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for denial
Liza Barros-Lane, The Conversation, 17 July 2025
Silence and denial also mark the opening event of the novel, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in the wake of which Mitch returns to Japan.
—Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Perhaps not coincidentally, Alabama also had the highest denial rates for in-network claims by insurers on the individual marketplace in 2023, according to a KFF analysis: 34%.
—Alana Semuels, Time, 15 July 2025
In the newest chapter in the struggle to preserve Oak Flat, currently a campground about 60 miles east of Phoenix, grassroots group Apache Stronghold asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its past denial and agree to hear what many religious leaders call a pivotal religious rights case.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for denial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denial
Noun
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But Committee Chair James Comer criticized O'Conner over his refusal to answer questions saying there had been a conspiracy to cover up Biden's cognitive decline.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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Also on Wednesday, the Trump administration sued the state over its refusal to ban transgender girls from competing in girls’ athletic programs.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
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In Cassidy’s time, the pre-academy era, there was next to no assistance for players dealing with rejection or setbacks.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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But this rejection of empathy has paved the way for dehumanizing rhetoric toward entire groups.—
Brian Recker,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denial. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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