An unconscious defense mechanism used to allay anxiety by denying the existence of important conflicts, troublesome impulses, events, actions, or illness. SYN: negation. [M.E., fr, O.Fr., fr. L. denegare, to say no]
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de·ni·al di-'nī(-ə)l n a psychological defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality
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de·ni·al (də-niґəl) a type of defense mechanism in which the existence of unpleasant internal or external realities is kept out of conscious awareness; by being so disavowed they are prevented from causing anxiety.Medical dictionary. 2011.