denial

Pronunciation: /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)
  2. noun the act of asserting that something alleged is not true
  3. noun (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts

Etymology

From deny + -al.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
speech act
Narrower (hyponyms)
abnegation, naysaying, disavowal, negative, refusal

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