Denial
WordNet
noun
(1) Renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others
(2) A defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him
"He gave evidence for the defense"
(3) The act of asserting that something alleged is not true
(4) The act of refusing to comply (as with a request)
"It resulted in a complete denial of his privileges"
(5) (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
WiktionaryText
Noun
- The negation in logic
- The denial of "There might be X" is the null, "False, there is no X."
- A refusal to comply with a request.
- Every time we asked for an interview we got a denial.
- An assertion of untruth
- The singer has issued a sweeping denial of all the rumors.
- Refusal to believe a problem exists
- We couldn't break through his denial about being alcoholic.
- Suzanne Fields wrote: "Denial" came out of the therapyspeak prevalent in the middle of the 20th century, especially as it was applied to confronting the reality of mortality. It was popularized as the first stage of grief, and quickly expanded to include refusal to confront any bad news or disturbing ideas. http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20070211-102908-5463r.htm
- We couldn't break through his denial about being alcoholic.