Denying

The act of declaring something to be untrue, or refusing to admit or acknowledge something. It involves withholding assent, contradicting a statement, or rejecting a request or claim. Denial can range from a simple refusal to a strong repudiation, and is often employed to protect oneself, distance oneself from something undesirable, or assert a contrasting viewpoint. The degree of denial can vary based on the subject's emotional investment and the perceived implications of admitting the truth. Denial is also a psychological defense mechanism.

Denying meaning with examples

• After initially claiming innocence, the defendant found himself backed into a corner and started denying his involvement in the robbery. He provided a weak alibi and tried to discredit the witnesses, clinging to the hope of a not guilty verdict. The evidence, however, was overwhelming. In the end, the weight of the evidence was so considerable that he was found guilty of all charges.
• The company was initially denying the rumors of layoffs, but when the stock price began to plummet, they had to issue a statement admitting that they were in financial trouble and that job cuts were unfortunately unavoidable. The investors were not pleased, and many more employees were dismissed, even though upper management had insisted everything was fine.
• Sarah kept denying she was tired, even though she was yawning and rubbing her eyes, because she wanted to keep the party going. The music was loud, and the dancing was lively. She wanted to feel like she belonged, she would not admit that all the noise had worn her out. In the end she finally fell asleep face-down on a sofa.
• When asked if he regretted his past actions, the politician responded by denying any wrongdoing. He skillfully sidestepped direct questions. Using carefully chosen words he deflected the criticism, painting himself as the victim of a witch hunt and refusing to answer honestly. The press and public felt he was not telling the whole truth.
• The government has been denying access to certain historical records, citing national security as the reason. Historians, however, suspect the materials would expose uncomfortable truths about past decisions. The secrecy has fueled speculation and mistrust, making the situation worse. This refusal of transparency has been viewed as detrimental to historical accuracy.