denied responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"denied responsibility" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when a person or entity has been asked to take responsibility for something they deny having caused or been involved in. Example: "The suspect denied responsibility for the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

America has denied responsibility.

The Economist

The Taliban denied responsibility.

The New York Times

Dole denied responsibility.

The New Yorker

Syria immediately denied responsibility.

The New York Times

Drillers have denied responsibility.

The New York Times

The Pakistani military denied responsibility.

The New York Times

The separatists denied responsibility.

The Guardian

The Pakistani Taliban denied responsibility.

The Economist

The opposition denied responsibility.

The Guardian

Rwanda has denied responsibility.

The New York Times

The Brotherhood has denied responsibility.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "denied responsibility" when you want to clearly state that a person or entity is refusing to accept blame or accountability for a specific action or event.

Common error

Ensure you have credible evidence before stating someone "denied responsibility". Avoid relying on assumptions or hearsay, as this can lead to misrepresentation and potential legal issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "denied responsibility" functions as a verb phrase expressing the act of refusing to accept blame or accountability for something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. It is commonly used to report on situations where individuals or entities are accused of wrongdoing but reject the accusations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "denied responsibility" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate a refusal to accept blame or accountability. As Ludwig AI states, it is suitable for written English. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media contexts. While numerous alternatives exist, such as "rejected culpability" or "disclaimed accountability", they carry slightly different connotations. When using this phrase, ensure that you have a reliable basis for the claim. As shown in the numerous examples found in Ludwig, this phrase is widely used in formal and informal contexts to report someone's refusal to be held accountable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disclaimed accountability

Formal alternative emphasizing rejection of accountability.

rejected culpability

Emphasizes the rejection of being at fault.

refused to accept blame

Directly states the refusal to be blamed.

repudiated involvement

A more formal way of saying they denied being involved.

pleaded not guilty

Legal context alternative, implying innocence.

shirked accountability

Implies avoidance of responsibility.

absolved oneself

Highlights the act of clearing oneself from blame.

declined to own up to

More informal, suggesting a refusal to admit fault.

washed one's hands of

Idiomatic expression indicating disassociation.

passed the buck

Suggests shifting responsibility to someone else.

FAQs

How can I use "denied responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "denied responsibility" to indicate someone is refusing to accept blame. For example, "The company "denied responsibility" for the environmental damage."

What are some alternatives to saying "denied responsibility"?

Alternatives include "rejected culpability", "disclaimed accountability", or "refused to accept blame", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "denied responsibility" or "rejected responsibility"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "denied responsibility" is more common. "Rejected responsibility" might be used to emphasize a more forceful refusal.

What's the difference between "denied responsibility" and "declined responsibility"?

"Denied responsibility" means to actively refuse to accept blame, while "declined responsibility" suggests a more passive refusal, possibly indicating a lack of involvement rather than outright denial.