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   deny

   /dɪˈnʌɪ/

   verb

   • 1. state that one refuses to admit the truth or existence of: "both firms deny any responsibility for the tragedy" Similar contradictrepudiategainsaydeclare untruedissent fromdisagree withchallengecontestopposeretracttake backback-pedaldisprovedebunkexplodediscreditrefuterebutinvalidatenegatenullifyquashinformal:shoot full of holesshoot down (in flames)disaffirmrare:controvertconfutenegativeOpposite confirm
   • ▪ refuse to admit the truth of (a concept or proposition that is supported by the majority of scientific or historical evidence): "an anti-environmentalist campaign group that denies climate change"
   • 2. refuse to give (something requested or desired) to (someone): "the inquiry was denied access to intelligence sources" Similar refuseturn downrejectrebuffrepulsedeclinevetodismissinformal:knock backgive the thumbs down togive the red light togive the brush-off toOpposite accept
   • ▪ refuse to let oneself have something that one desires: "there was no way that I was going to deny myself ice cream"
   • ▪ refuse access to (someone): archaic "the servants are ordered to deny him"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French deni-, stressed stem of deneier, from Latin denegare, from de- ‘formally’ + negare ‘say no’.

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • Y

     4

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