deny

[dih-nahy] /dɪˈnaɪ/
verb (used with object), denied, denying.
1.
to state that (something declared or believed to be true) is not true:
to deny an accusation.
2.
to refuse to agree or accede to:
to deny a petition.
3.
to withhold the possession, use, or enjoyment of:
to deny access to secret information.
4.
to withhold something from, or refuse to grant a request of:
to deny a beggar.
5.
to refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disown; disavow; repudiate:
to deny one's gods.
6.
to withhold (someone) from accessibility to a visitor:
The secretary denied his employer to all those without appointments.
7.
Obsolete. to refuse to take or accept.
Idioms
8.
deny oneself, to refrain from satisfying one's desires or needs; practice self-denial.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English denien < Old French denier < Latin dēnegāre. See denegation
Related forms
denyingly, adverb
predeny, verb (used with object), predenied, predenying.
redeny, verb (used with object), redenied, redenying.
undenied, adjective
Can be confused
deny, disapprove, disprove, rebut, refute (see synonym study at the current entry)
Synonyms
1. dispute, controvert, oppose, gainsay. Deny, contradict both imply objecting to or arguing against something. To deny is to say that something is not true: to deny an allegation. To contradict is to declare that the contrary is true: to contradict a statement. 5. renounce, abjure.
Antonyms
1. admit, accept. 3. allow.
Examples from the web for deny
  • Having said that, what we read is important; I won't try to deny that.
  • You shouldn't be able to deny teamates from a major objective.
  • He continues to deny that he needs help.
  • Both can exist and thus, it merely makes the formation of the earth more interesting but does not deny scientific evidence either.
  • Therefore, you must deny any accusations of imperfection.
  • He holds the power to deny justice, for all practical purposes, by permitting delays and by permitting costs to pile up.
  • Sugar executives do not deny that they lobbied hard.
  • Yes they can deny you tenure despite your evaluations.
  • He does not deny—how could he?—the sufferings and indignities of old age.
  • Most, of course, deny any knowledge of the nefarious charges.
British Dictionary definitions for deny

deny

/dɪˈnaɪ/
verb (transitive) -nies, -nying, -nied
1.
to declare (an assertion, statement, etc) to be untrue: he denied that he had killed her
2.
to reject as false; refuse to accept or believe
3.
to withhold; refuse to give
4.
to refuse to fulfil the requests or expectations of: it is hard to deny a child
5.
to refuse to acknowledge or recognize; disown; disavow: the baron denied his wicked son
6.
to refuse (oneself) things desired
Word Origin
C13: from Old French denier, from Latin dēnegāre, from negāre
Word Origin and History for deny
v.

early 14c., from Old French denoiir "deny, repudiate, withhold," from Latin denegare "to deny, reject, refuse" (source of Italian dinegarre, Spanish denegar), from de- "away" (see de-) + negare "refuse, say 'no,' " from Old Latin nec "not," from Italic base *nek- "not," from PIE root *ne- "no, not" (see un-). Related: Denied; denying.