deny oneself
idiom
: to not allow oneself to enjoy things or to have the things one wants
On this diet, I don't feel like I'm denying myself.
I'm not denying myself the foods that I love, I'm just eating smaller amounts.
He's always denied himself the simple pleasures in life.
Examples of deny oneself in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Contradiction was merely authentic self-expression, the mark of living fully and refusing to deny oneself.
—
The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
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.
The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near deny oneself
Cite this Entry
“Deny oneself.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deny%20oneself. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share