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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of denial
Focus on claim denials and regulate algorithmic pricing systems that redline and penalize Black and Brown communities.
—
Phara Souffrant Forrest, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
However, companies could use time saved by AI to put more effort into having people review cases flagged by AI, which could increase denials.
—Grace MacKleby, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
The plan was ultimately rejected; the Department of Human Services says the denial was based on reports from 2019 and 2021 and ignored corrective work that the state had shouldered over the last year.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Traynor’s denials run contrary to the decisions of nearly every one of his colleagues both in Minnesota and North Dakota, as well as a vast majority of judges across the country.
—Tasha Carvell, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for denial
Phara Souffrant Forrest, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
However, companies could use time saved by AI to put more effort into having people review cases flagged by AI, which could increase denials.
—Grace MacKleby, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
The plan was ultimately rejected; the Department of Human Services says the denial was based on reports from 2019 and 2021 and ignored corrective work that the state had shouldered over the last year.
—Aki Nace, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Traynor’s denials run contrary to the decisions of nearly every one of his colleagues both in Minnesota and North Dakota, as well as a vast majority of judges across the country.
—Tasha Carvell, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for denial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denial
Noun
-
The tension in Hines’s version lies in Bessette’s refusal to conform to the role.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
And six in 10 view Republicans’ refusal to accept changes requested by Democrats negatively.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This proved to be the initial step on a path that eventually led to my rejection of the faith in which I’d been raised.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
That rejection of redemption is precisely what makes these stories indispensable now.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denial. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
