deny

deny — verb

1. to state that a statement, accusation, or claim is false or incorrect

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to state that a statement, accusation, or claim is false or incorrect

Example

The politician denied taking any money from the construction company, but the receipts told a different story.

deny + gerund (-ing form)

Mira denied the accusation that she had copied answers from a classmate during the exam.

deny + noun phrase (accusation)

Common collocations
  • deny allegations
  • deny charges
  • deny accusations
  • deny claims
  • deny rumours
  • deny reports
  • deny involvement
  • deny wrongdoing
  • categorically deny
  • strongly deny
  • flatly deny
Synonyms
  • contradict

    focuses on saying the opposite; less formal and less emphatic than 'deny'

  • refute

    more formal; implies providing proof that a claim is wrong, not just stating it is wrong

  • rebut

    formal, used especially in legal or debate contexts; to offer counter-evidence

Antonyms
  • admit

    to accept that something is true

  • acknowledge

    to accept or admit the existence or truth of something

Grammar Patterns

deny + noun phrase (deny the allegations)

deny + that-clause (deny that something happened)

deny + -ing form (deny doing something)

Usage Note

Frequently used with legal or formal objects: 'allegations,' 'charges,' 'accusations,' 'claims.' The gerund pattern ('deny + -ing') is more common than the that-clause pattern in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

He denied to steal the money.
He denied stealing the money.
'deny' is followed by a gerund (-ing form), not a to-infinitive.
She denied the truth.
She denied that it was true.
'deny the truth' can sound odd; use 'deny that…' or 'deny a claim/accusation' with a specific object.

2. a fixed expression used to emphasise that a fact is so clear or certain that nob

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

a fixed expression used to emphasise that a fact is so clear or certain that nobody can argue against it

Example

There is no denying that the team played much better after the new coach took over.

there is no denying + that-clause

There is no denying the importance of learning basic phrases in the local language when you travel.

there is no denying + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • there is no denying the fact
  • there is no denying the importance
  • there is no denying that
Synonyms
  • undoubtedly

    adverb, used to express the same certainty; 'There is undoubtedly a problem'

  • without question

    phrase with the same emphatic certainty; more formal

Grammar Patterns

there is no denying + noun phrase (there is no denying the fact)

there is no denying + that-clause (there is no denying that…)

Usage Note

This is a fixed idiom. 'There is no denying' cannot be conjugated for person or tense (❌ 'There was no denying' is acceptable in past tense, but ❌ 'He denies no denying' is not). The structure is always 'there is/was no denying + noun/that-clause.'

3. to prevent someone from receiving something they want, need, or have asked for

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to prevent someone from receiving something they want, need, or have asked for

Example

The school principal denied the students permission to leave early on the last day of term.

deny + someone + something (ditransitive)

The landlord denied Bilal access to his own apartment until the overdue rent was paid in full.

deny + someone + something

Common collocations
  • deny access
  • deny permission
  • deny entry
  • deny rights
  • deny a visa
  • deny a request
  • deny a promotion
  • deny funding
  • deny service
  • deny justice
Synonyms
  • refuse

    similar meaning but 'refuse' pairs with an infinitive ('refuse to let someone have'); 'deny' pairs with a noun object

  • withhold

    more formal; implies deliberately keeping something that someone has a right to

  • block

    less formal; implies actively preventing something from happening

Antonyms
  • grant

    to give or allow someone what they have asked for

  • allow

    to let someone have or do something

Grammar Patterns

deny + someone + something (deny the children a treat)

deny + something + to + someone (deny access to visitors)

be denied + something (passive)

Usage Note

The ditransitive pattern ('deny + person + thing') is the most common. The passive construction ('be denied + thing') is frequent in formal and journalistic writing. The object can be an abstract thing ('access,' 'rights,' 'opportunity') or a concrete one ('food,' 'entry,' 'funds').

Common Mistakes

They denied him to enter the building.
They denied him entry to the building.' or 'They refused to let him enter the building.
'deny' takes a noun object (entry/access/permission), not a to-infinitive clause.
The visa was denied to him.
He was denied a visa.
the passive with the person as subject is more natural in English.

4. to refuse to acknowledge that you know about something, are responsible for some

4.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to refuse to acknowledge that you know about something, are responsible for something, or experience a particular feeling or emotion

Example

Even with CCTV footage showing him near the scene, Tamás denied any responsibility for the accident.

deny + noun phrase (responsibility)

Lisa denied feeling nervous during the job interview, but the sweat on her forehead told the truth.

deny + gerund (-ing form for feelings)

Common collocations
  • deny responsibility
  • deny knowledge
  • deny involvement
  • deny wrongdoing
  • deny guilt
  • deny feeling
  • deny caring
Synonyms
  • disclaim

    very formal; used in legal contexts to deny responsibility or knowledge

  • disavow

    formal; to state that you are not connected to or responsible for something

  • repress

    used for feelings; to unconsciously push an emotion out of awareness

Antonyms
  • admit

    to confess or accept the truth of something, especially something negative

  • own up to

    informal phrasal verb meaning to admit responsibility

Grammar Patterns

deny + noun phrase (deny responsibility)

deny + -ing form (deny knowing)

deny + that-clause (deny that one cares)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 denies the truth of an external statement or accusation, whereas sense 4 denies an internal state (knowledge, responsibility, feelings). Common objects include 'any knowledge,' 'any involvement,' 'all responsibility,' and emotion words like 'feeling hurt,' 'being afraid,' 'caring.'

Common Mistakes

He denied to be responsible.
He denied being responsible.' or 'He denied that he was responsible.
'deny' must be followed by a gerund or that-clause, not a to-infinitive.

5. to voluntarily refrain from giving yourself something you want, often for reason

5.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to voluntarily refrain from giving yourself something you want, often for reasons of discipline, faith, health, or principle

Example

Wren denied herself the pleasure of dessert for the entire month while training for the marathon.

deny + oneself + something (pleasure)

The monks deny themselves all material comforts as part of their religious practice and spiritual discipline.

deny + oneself + something (material comforts)

Common collocations
  • deny oneself
  • deny oneself the pleasure
  • deny oneself the opportunity
  • deny oneself a treat
  • deny oneself comfort
Synonyms
  • deprive oneself of

    slightly different connotation; 'deprive' suggests someone else is responsible, while 'deny oneself' is always voluntary

  • forgo

    to choose not to have or do something; slightly formal

  • abstain from

    to refrain from something enjoyable, especially food, drink, or a habit

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

deny + oneself + something (deny herself dessert)

deny + oneself + the opportunity/pleasure/chance to do something

Usage Note

Always reflexive: the direct object is a form of 'oneself' (myself, yourself, herself, etc.). This sense appears most often in discussions of self-discipline, religious fasting, dieting, and saving money. The pattern 'deny + oneself + the + opportunity/pleasure/chance + to-infinitive' is especially common in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

He denied to eat chocolate.
He denied himself chocolate.
the reflexive pronoun is required; without it, the sentence means he said the chocolate wasn't there (sense 1).

6. to state or act as if you are not connected to a person, group, nation, or set o

6.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to state or act as if you are not connected to a person, group, nation, or set of beliefs, especially when acknowledging that connection would bring difficulty, danger, or shame

Example

After the scandal destroyed their reputation, the executive denied any connection with his former business partner.

deny + connection + with + someone

According to the gospel accounts, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of the arrest.

deny + gerund (-ing form) for personal connection

Common collocations
  • deny one's faith
  • deny one's family
  • deny one's country
  • deny one's principles
  • deny one's identity
  • deny any connection with
  • deny knowing someone
Synonyms
  • disown

    stronger emotional charge; specifically about rejecting family or close connections

  • renounce

    formal; to formally give up a belief, title, or claim

  • repudiate

    very formal; to refuse to accept or be associated with someone or something

Antonyms
  • acknowledge

    to accept or admit that someone is part of your life or identity

  • claim

    to state that you belong to or support a person, group, or belief

Grammar Patterns

deny + noun phrase (deny one's faith / faith / family / country)

deny + -ing form (deny knowing someone)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 4: sense 4 is about denying internal states (knowledge, responsibility, feelings), whereas sense 6 is about denying an external connection (family, religion, country, a person). The object in sense 6 is always a person, group, or set of beliefs that the subject is expected to be loyal to. Historically the most famous use is 'denying one's faith' in religious persecution contexts.

Common Mistakes

He denied his family members to help them.
He denied his family.
when the object is a person or group, the meaning is 'to disown/abandon,' not 'to refuse to help.' Avoid adding extra verbs after the object.

Word family

  • denial
    nounB2
  • deniable
    adjectiveC1
  • undeniable
    adjectiveB2
  • undeniably
    adverbB2
  • denier
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words involve a negative response, but they differ in object and intensity. 'Deny' means to state that something is not true (the focus is on the truth of a claim). 'Refuse' means to say no to an offer, request, or invitation ('She refused the job') — it is about unwillingness, not about truth. 'Reject' means to dismiss something as unacceptable ('He rejected the proposal'); it is stronger than 'refuse' and implies active dismissal. 'Contradict' means to say the opposite of what someone else has said; it can be personal and direct. 'Refute' is the most formal and intellectual — it means to prove something false with evidence ('The scientist refuted the theory'). Choose 'deny' when the issue is the truth of a statement; choose 'refuse' for an offer or request; choose 'reject' for a proposal or idea you find unacceptable. For example: 'The politician denied the accusation' (said it wasn't true), 'She refused the bribe' (said no to it), 'The committee rejected the plan' (found it unacceptable).

deny ↗refuse ↗reject ↗contradict ↗refute

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • deny categorically
  • deny flatly
  • deny strongly
  • deny vigorously
  • deny emphatically
  • deny repeatedly

Phrases

  • there is no denying
  • deny oneself
  • deny all knowledge
  • deny any involvement
  • deny someone something

Prepositions

  • deny to (deny something to someone)
  • deny by (denied by the spokesperson)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'deny' entered English in the 1200s from Old French 'denier,' which came from Latin 'denegare' — a combination of 'de-' (meaning 'away, completely') and 'negare' (meaning 'to say no'). The Latin 'negare' also gave us 'negate' and 'negative.' So at its root, 'deny' literally means 'to say no completely or emphatically.' The reflexive sense ('deny oneself') appeared in the 1500s, and the sense of disowning a connection ('deny one's faith') has been used since the 1300s.