outright deny

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outright deny" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone completely rejects or refuses to acknowledge a claim or statement without any hesitation or qualification. Example: "The politician chose to outright deny the allegations made against him during the press conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

It grossly underplays the seriousness of the climate threat, but at least it doesn't outright deny it.

The New Yorker

But even where the knowledge provided by science is overwhelming, people often resist it — sometimes outright deny it.

The New Yorker

"Admissions officers are already halfway through the application reading process by the time interview reports come in — they already have opinions as to whether a student is a likely or a swing or an outright deny".

The New York Times

Such was the case this morning, when Stephen Elop made some very brief comments in which he affirmed the company's commitment to Windows Phone (not news!), and didn't outright deny that it would be launching its newest device in September (ummmm yeah).

TechCrunch

Mike Sitrick, now serving as a spokesman for the CEO, didn't outright deny the report that Rubin carried on a relationship during his time at Google, but did tell the site that he was not reprimanded by the company over it.

TechCrunch

SeaWorld didn't outright deny the accusation at the time. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The other half's legitimacy, even its existence, must be diminished, if not outright denied.

The New York Times

The response agrees with some of the allegations made in the lawsuit, claims not to have enough information to respond to others, and outright denies still others.

The New York Times

Since then scientific scrutiny has focused overwhelmingly on women's reproductive rather than sexual function; at times the existence of female desire and arousal and orgasm has been outright denied.

The New York Times - Books

This barring of access may be blatant: attacking and killing aid workers, looting their supplies, outright denying safe passage, or it may be more subtle, coming in the form of burdensome bureaucratic measures.

The Guardian

"The American People" might have been — perhaps should have been — a dozen shorter books: a farce, a memoir, a collection of short biographies entitled "Our Gay Presidents," a polemic on AIDS, a blistering critique of mainstream American historians and their habit of ignoring, if not outright denying, the indisputable fact and presence of homosexuality in this country.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "outright deny", ensure the context clearly indicates a complete rejection, leaving no room for ambiguity. For example, "The witness chose to outright deny the accusations."

Common error

Avoid using "outright deny" when a more nuanced response is appropriate, such as acknowledging partial truth or expressing doubt rather than complete rejection. This phrase implies a firm and absolute negation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright deny" functions as a verb phrase, where "outright" modifies the verb "deny" to emphasize the complete and unambiguous nature of the denial. This construction is used to express a firm rejection of a statement or claim. Ludwig examples confirm its standard usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outright deny" is a useful expression for conveying a complete and unambiguous rejection of a claim or statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, most commonly found in news and media. While "outright deny" is relatively common, it's important to choose it deliberately, ensuring the context warrants a firm and absolute negation rather than a more nuanced response. Alternatives like "unequivocally deny", "totally deny", and "categorically deny" can offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unequivocally deny

Emphasizes the absence of any doubt or reservation in the denial.

totally deny

Implies a complete and absolute negation of something.

categorically deny

Highlights the formal and decisive nature of the denial.

flatly deny

Indicates a direct and firm refusal or denial.

openly deny

Suggests that the denial is made publicly and without concealment.

directly deny

Implies a denial that's straightforward and without intermediaries.

completely deny

Suggests that every aspect of the claim is rejected.

roundly deny

Implies widespread or emphatic disagreement and denial.

absolutely refute

Highlights a stronger sense of disproving something, not just denying it.

reject outright

Reverses the order but maintains the meaning of complete rejection.

FAQs

How can I use "outright deny" in a sentence?

You can use "outright deny" when someone completely rejects a claim or statement. For example, "The suspect chose to outright deny any involvement in the crime."

What's the difference between "flatly deny" and "outright deny"?

While both phrases indicate a strong denial, "flatly deny" suggests a more direct and firm refusal, whereas "outright deny" emphasizes the completeness of the rejection.

Which is correct, "outright deny" or "completely deny"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Completely deny" may emphasize the extent of the denial, while "outright deny" can highlight the lack of hesitation.

What can I say instead of "outright deny"?

You can use alternatives like "unequivocally deny", "totally deny", or "categorically deny" depending on the context.