🙅 To say untrue 🚫 To refuse

to deny

661 1.6

To refuse to let someone have something

verb
/dɪˈnaɪ/

: denegar

My feeling was that I could not deny myself an eternal marriage.
deny access
deny permission
deny a request

But empathy doesn't mean that you deny yourself that.

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Examples

We are denying our kids the chance to grow.

High Performance
I give you everything and you still deny me.

Gabriel (2007)
Why should I deny myself the pleasure of a ride or two?

Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Then you must deny it to them.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Will they now deny me the liberty which they now have?

The Exile (1947)
I'm afraid I must deny your petition.

Alien: Romulus (2024)
I can't deny it, any more than you can deny who you are.

Fiction book (1993)
I would not deny her any true joy.

Francis of Assisi (1961)
Despite their efforts, the majority of the landless tribes have been denied federal recognition.

Academic text (1990)
I would not deny myself the opportunity to travel abroad this summer.

Synonyms

to refuse

vsto deny

∞ 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

focuses on not giving or allowing something rather than only replying no

to reject

vsto deny

760 1.9

Refuse to accept someone or something

is about refusing to give or permit something rather than judging acceptance

to turn down

vsto deny

373 2.9

Refuse an offer, invitation, or request

covers refusing to give or allow broadly, not only offers or invites

to dismiss

vsto deny

296 3.0

To refuse to accept an idea or claim

acts by withholding permission or provision rather than ignoring worth or value

to withhold

vsto deny

204 5.1

Refuse to give something someone wants or needs

is the act of denying permission or grant rather than actively retaining it

to turn away

vsto deny

83 2.8

Refuse someone entry to a place or group

is broader, covering any refusal to give, allow, or grant something

to repudiate

vsto deny

Formal

31 8.2

To refuse to accept or be linked to something

is about refusing to give or allow rather than denying connection formally

to disallow

vsto deny

Formal

15 3.9

To refuse to allow something, usually by an official rule

is the general act of not granting rather than an official ban

Antonyms

to allow

∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

to grant

Formal

657 3.3

To officially give permission, rights, or money to someone

How Permissive

to allow

∞ 1.0

to grant

Formal

657 3.3

to withhold

204 5.1

to deny

661 1.6

to refuse

∞ 1.7

Surface Forms

deny infinitive

denied past

denied past participle

denying present participle

denies third person singular

Etymology

The word deny also comes from the Latin negare ('to say no'), and it kept that basic idea. That's why to deny someone something is to 'say no' to giving it, or to refuse it.