Deny — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /di-ˈnī/ de·ny

Meaning & Definition of Deny

Deny (verb)

  1. to declare (something) to be untrue
  2. to refuse to admit or acknowledge (something), disavow
  3. to give a negative answer to

Deny (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to declare not to be true

    "the congressman denied all charges of wrongdoing"

    similar: contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, repudiate
    related: traverse, challenge, confute, disprove, rebut, disagree (with), dispute
    opposite: acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own
    near: accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit, authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify

  2. to be unwilling to grant

    "the director denied access to the top secret files to all but those with a need to know"

    similar: decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withhold
    related: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, rebuff, repel, spurn, check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict, balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct
    opposite: allow, concede, grant, let, OK, permit
    near: afford, furnish, give, provide, supply, authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant, accord, sanction, vouchsafe

  3. to refuse to acknowledge as one's own or as one's responsibility

    "in a futile attempt to get out of the contract, he even denied his own signature"

    similar: disavow, disclaim, disown, repudiate, wash one's hands of
    related: contradict, disallow, gainsay, negate, negative, refuse, reject, challenge, confute, criticize, disprove, rebut, refute, dispute, question, abdicate, abjure, recant, renounce, retract
    opposite: acknowledge, avow, claim, own, recognize
    near: accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, admit, concede, confess, grant, affirm, announce, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, submit, authenticate, confirm, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deny

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deny:

contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, reject, repudiate, decline, disapprove, nix, refuse, reprobate, withhold, wash one's hands of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deny

Words with the opposite meaning of Deny:

acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own, grant, let, OK, permit, claim, recognize

Related Words for Deny

traverse, challenge, confute, disprove, rebut, disagree (with), dispute, ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, rebuff, repel, spurn, check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict, balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct, criticize, question

Near Antonyms of Deny

accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, affirm, announce, assert, aver, declare, maintain, profess, submit, authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify, afford, furnish, give, provide, supply, authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to)

Word Forms of Deny

Inflections: denied, denying, denies

Derived words: denyingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Deny

Middle English denien, borrowed from Anglo-French denier, deneier (also continental Old French), from de- de- (reinforcing the meaning of the base verb) + nier "to renounce, deny, refuse" (after Latin dēnegāre "to deny"), going back to Latin negāre "to say (with the negative of a conjoined clause), deny, say no" negate

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Deny

Words & Phrases Containing Deny

deny oneself, grant/deny access to

Frequently Asked Questions about Deny

What does "Deny" mean?

"Deny" means to declare (something) to be untrue. As a verb, it is defined as: to declare (something) to be untrue. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deny"?

Other words for "Deny" include contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown and gainsay. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deny" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deny"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deny". Common alternatives include contradict, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate and negative.

What is the opposite of "Deny"?

Antonyms of "Deny" include acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own and grant. Near antonyms include accept, adopt, embrace and espouse.

How do you use "Deny" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deny" in a sentence: "the congressman denied all charges of wrongdoing"; "the director denied access to the top secret files to all but those with a need to know"; "in a futile attempt to get out of the contract, he even denied his own signature".

Is "Deny" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deny" is a verb.

Is "Deny" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Deny" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Deny"?

"Deny" is pronounced /di-ˈnī/ and divided into syllables as de·ny.