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tr.v. de·nied, de·ny·ing, de·nies 1. To declare untrue; assert to be false: "A senior officer denied that any sensitive documents had been stored there" (Scott Ritter). 2. To refuse to believe; reject: deny the existence of evil spirits. 3. To refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disavow: The official denied any wrongdoing. 4. a. To decline to grant or allow; refuse: deny the student's request; denied the prisoner food or water. b. To give a refusal to; turn down or away: The protesters were determined not to be denied. c. To restrain (oneself) especially from indulgence in pleasures. [Middle English denien, from Old French denier, from Latin dēnegāre : dē-, de- + negāre, to say no; see ne in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: deny, contradict, gainsay These verbs mean to refuse to admit the existence, truth, or value of: denied the rumor; contradicted the statement; trying to gainsay the evidence. Antonym: affirm |
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