deny the assertion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deny the assertion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that someone is rejecting or contradicting a statement or claim made by another person. Example: "In the debate, she chose to deny the assertion that climate change is not influenced by human activity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Both companies deny the assertion.

The New York Times

Lt. Col. Shawn Stroud, communications director for NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, sent out a personal e-mail to friends and colleagues to "categorically deny the assertion" that the commander, Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, or his officers "used an Information Operations cell to influence distinguished visitors".

The New York Times

We may, however, deny the assertion that that experienced feeling was not mediated.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"We deny the assertions made in that letter," he said.

The New York Times

It sounds as though companies like Philip Morris, which makes Marlboros, are secretly and deceptively increasing the nicotine in their cigarettes and, apparently, lying about it (since they deny the assertions of the report), all in an effort to increase the addictive potential of their cigarettes and harm the public's health.

The New York Times

Raniere and Salzman don't directly deny the assertions, but they say Natalie may have altered court documents–a charge Natalie says is outrageous.

Forbes

The rebels denied the assertion.

The New York Times

Russell denied the assertion.

The New York Times

Mr. Lim denied the assertion.

The New York Times

Iran has denied the assertion.

The New York Times

She has vehemently denied the assertion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deny the assertion" when directly contradicting a specific claim, especially in formal or professional contexts.

Common error

While "deny the assertion" is correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider simpler alternatives like "disagree with that" or "that's not true" for informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deny the assertion" functions as a verbal phrase used to express disagreement or contradiction. It typically acts as the predicate of a sentence, indicating a rejection of a statement made by someone else, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deny the assertion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to formally express disagreement or contradiction. As Ludwig suggests, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. While correct, it's important to consider the formality of the setting and choose simpler alternatives for casual conversation. To enhance your writing, remember to use this phrase when directly refuting a specific claim in a formal or professional manner. Also, remember some good alternative phrases are "refute the claim", "dispute the allegation" and "contradict the statement".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refute the claim

Replaces "deny" with "refute" and "assertion" with "claim", suggesting a more formal and reasoned contradiction.

dispute the allegation

Substitutes "deny" with "dispute" and "assertion" with "allegation", implying a formal disagreement with a specific charge.

contradict the statement

Replaces "deny" with "contradict" and "assertion" with "statement", emphasizing a direct opposition to what was said.

reject the premise

Uses "reject" instead of "deny" and "premise" instead of "assertion", focusing on disagreeing with the underlying assumption.

disavow the affirmation

A more formal alternative, using "disavow" for "deny" and "affirmation" for "assertion", indicating a strong rejection.

repudiate the position

Implies a formal rejection of a held stance or viewpoint by replacing "deny" with "repudiate" and "assertion" with "position".

challenge the argument

Shifts the focus to actively questioning and contesting the validity of an argument.

contest the declaration

Emphasizes a formal disagreement with a public or official declaration.

negate the thesis

Replaces "deny" with "negate" and "assertion" with "thesis", suggesting a formal rebuttal in an academic or intellectual context.

disclaim the avowal

Implies a public and formal denial or disavowal of a previous admission or declaration.

FAQs

What does "deny the assertion" mean?

To "deny the assertion" means to state that a particular claim or statement is not true or valid. It's a formal way of disagreeing with something.

How to use "deny the assertion" in a sentence?

You can use "deny the assertion" when someone has made a statement and you want to express your disagreement or disbelief. For example, "The company chose to deny the assertion that their products are harmful."

What can I say instead of "deny the assertion"?

You can use alternatives like "refute the claim", "dispute the allegation", or "contradict the statement" depending on the context.

Is "deny the assertion" formal or informal?

"Deny the assertion" is generally considered a formal expression. In more casual settings, simpler phrases like "disagree with that" or "that's not true" might be more appropriate.