denialist

1 of 2

noun

de·​ni·​al·​ist di-ˈnī(-ə)l-ist 

dē-

plural denialists

: a person who denies the existence, truth, or validity of something despite proof or strong evidence that it is real, true, or valid : someone who practices denialism

For those of us who prefer to remain based in reality, the denialists represent a conundrum. Plenty of them are intelligent and educated—yet they just will not accept scientific findings as true.

—Dan Hurley

"Scientists tell them inconvenient things," said Jerry Taylor, president of the Niskanen Center, a centrist research organization, and former climate change denialist who now advocates for the acceptance of climate science.

—Lisa Friedman and Brad Plumer

The AIDS denialists use pseudoscience and non-peer-reviewed Internet postings to bolster their false claims …

—John Moore and Nicoli Nattrass

denialist

2 of 2

adjective

: or, relating to, or characteristic of denialism or denialists

the denialist movement

denialist views/claims

Denialist officials and commentators who throw up their hands and say "I'm not a scientist" are being disingenuous.

—Eugene Robinson

Examples of denialist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mutual-aid posts stand alongside those from climate denialists and doomers. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2025

If Trump loses, election denialists may look to the betting markets as part of their evidence that the race was stolen. —Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Yet for the most part, the denialist arguments have shifted. —Stephanie Hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2024

President Mbeki, as head of state, opened the conference and, to the horror of much of the audience, reiterated his denialist view. —Stephanie Nolen, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

denial + -ist entry 1

Adjective

denial + -ist entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1903, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1903, in the meaning defined above