What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
denial
Example
She was in denial about her addiction and refused to seek help. [denial: noun]
Example
The defendant entered a plea of not guilty, which is a form of denial. [denial: noun]
Example
He used denial as a coping mechanism to deal with his trauma. [denial: noun]
rejection
Example
She felt the sting of rejection when her job application was turned down. [rejection: noun]
Example
He rejected her invitation to go out on a date. [rejected: verb]
Example
The committee rejected the proposal due to insufficient evidence. [rejected: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rejection is more commonly used than denial in everyday language. Rejection is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while denial is less common and often used in specific fields such as law or psychology.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between denial and rejection?
Denial is typically associated with formal or technical language, while rejection can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
