denial

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of refusing to comply, as with a request

   The hearing resulted in a complete denial of their privileges.

2. 2
   noun

   An assertion of untruth.

   The singer has issued a sweeping denial of all the rumors.

3. 3
   noun

   The negation in logic.

   The denial of "There might be X" is the null, "False, there is no X."

4. 4
   noun

   A refusal or failure to provide or grant something that is requested or desired.

   The denial of medical treatment to those who cannot afford to pay is scandalous.

5. 5
   noun

   Refusal to believe that a problem exists.

   We couldn't break through his denial about being alcoholic.

6. 6
   noun

   Refusal to admit responsibility for wrongdoing.

   Denial is the first act when the perpetrator refutes the very nature of the planned measures, explaining the steps as justified and legitimate actions to cope with the identified problem. The denial then lives on during the different stages of the genocide and is invoked continuously by the perpetrator whenever its actions are criticized or labeled as atrocities and unlawful. At the end, once the practical stages have had their course, all that remains and thrives is the denial.

7. 7
   noun

   Negationism, denialism of historical facts or accepted interpretation.

   The sheer length of the list demonstrates the hold denial wields over states and societies, a power that may be best understood empirically by delving further into the two best-documented cases of Holocaust and Armenian [genocide] denial.

8. 8
   noun

   A defense mechanism involving a refusal to accept the truth of a phenomenon or prospect.

   He is in denial that he has a drinking problem.

Etymology

From deny + -al.