# denial

> English word · Noun · IPA /dɪˈnaɪ.əl/ · frequency rank #7,216

## Definitions
1. An assertion of untruth.
2. The negation in logic.
3. A refusal or failure to provide or grant something that is requested or desired.
4. Refusal to believe that a problem exists.
5. Refusal to admit responsibility for wrongdoing.
6. Negationism, denialism of historical facts or accepted interpretation.
7. A defense mechanism involving a refusal to accept the truth of a phenomenon or prospect.
8. A disownment or disavowal

## Etymology
From deny + -al.

## Easily confused with
- **dial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-dial)
- **devil** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-devil)
- **Denis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-denis)
- **denim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-denim)
- **denied** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-denied)
- **dental** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-dental)
- **Denise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-denise)
- **Denzel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-denzel)
- **dermal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-dermal)
- **denier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denial-vs-denier)
- **deal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deal-vs-denial)
- **Delia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delia-vs-denial)
- **decal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decal-vs-denial)
- **Daniel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/daniel-vs-denial)
- **Denham** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denham-vs-denial)
- **Denali** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/denali-vs-denial)
- **decimal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/decimal-vs-denial)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ddenial`, `deinal`, `denail`, `deniall`, `denila`, `dennial`, `dneial`, `ednial`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/denial