DENY Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'deny' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deny are contradict , contravene , and gainsay . While all these words mean "to refuse to accept as true or valid," deny implies a firm refusal to accept as true, to grant or concede, or to acknowledge the existence or claims of. // denied the charges

Q: When is it sensible to use 'contradict' instead of 'deny'?

The meanings of contradict and deny largely overlap; however, contradict implies an open or flat denial. // her account contradicts his

Q: When can 'contravene' be used instead of 'deny'?

The words contravene and deny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contravene implies not so much an intentional opposition as some inherent incompatibility. // laws that contravene tradition

Q: When could 'gainsay' be used to replace 'deny'?

The synonyms gainsay and deny are sometimes interchangeable, but gainsay implies disputing the truth of what another has said. // no one can gainsay her claims

deny

verb

di-ˈnī

Definition of deny next

as in to refute

to declare not to be true the congressman denied all charges of wrongdoing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to refuse

to be unwilling to grant the director denied access to the top secret files to all but those with a need to know

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reject

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb deny differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of deny are contradict, contravene, and gainsay. While all these words mean "to refuse to accept as true or valid," deny implies a firm refusal to accept as true, to grant or concede, or to acknowledge the existence or claims of.

denied the charges

When is it sensible to use contradict instead of deny?

The meanings of contradict and deny largely overlap; however, contradict implies an open or flat denial.

her account contradicts his

When can contravene be used instead of deny?

The words contravene and deny are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, contravene implies not so much an intentional opposition as some inherent incompatibility.

laws that contravene tradition

When could gainsay be used to replace deny?

The synonyms gainsay and deny are sometimes interchangeable, but gainsay implies disputing the truth of what another has said.

no one can gainsay her claims

Examples 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 deny In 2019, the FBI accused Israel’s government of deploying a cell-site simulator near the White House—a claim Israel denied. —

Dhruv Mehrotra, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025 Trump, who has repeatedly denied the results of the 2020 election, is headed back to the White House flanked by a leading anti-vaccine advocate in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as his Health and Human Services Secretary. —

Scott Nover, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025 Maggio’s attorneys, Margaret McQuaid and Michael Clancy, filed a motion for a new trial in November that Bertani-Tomczak denied just before sentencing. —

Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025 Under the old standards, permits were mandatory and could be denied for various reasons that some detractors saw as inconsistent. —

Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for deny

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deny

Verb

Lori Robertson, director of the nonpartisan website FactCheck.org, which also partnered with Meta, also refuted Zuckerberg's notion that fact-checking contributed to a suppression of opinion.

Kate Gibson, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2025
In 2011, his former Minister of Justice directly refuted the previous statements, claiming that Gaddafi directly ordered the bombing.

Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025