Denial vs. Tease — What's the Difference?

Denial, in ordinary English usage, is asserting that a statement or allegation is not true (which might be accurate or inaccurate). It may also mean the refusal of a request, but this article covers denial of true factual claims.

Make fun of or attempt to provoke (a person or animal) in a playful way

A refusal to comply with or satisfy a request.

Gently pull or comb (tangled wool, hair, etc.) into separate strands

A refusal to grant the truth of a statement or allegation; a contradiction.

A person who makes fun of someone playfully or unkindly

(Law) The formal challenge by a defendant of the truth of an allegation made by the plaintiff.

An act of teasing someone

A refusal to accept or believe something, such as a doctrine or belief.

To make fun of (someone) playfully or taunt annoyingly

(Psychology) An unconscious defense mechanism characterized by refusal to acknowledge painful realities, thoughts, or feelings.

To say in a playful or mocking way

The act of disowning or disavowing; repudiation.

To provoke or irritate, as with physical movements

Abstinence; self-denial.

To arouse sexual desire in (someone) deliberately with no intention of having sex.

An assertion of untruth.

To urge persistently; coax

(logic) The negation in logic.

To disentangle and dress the fibers of (wool, for example).

A refusal or failure to provide or grant something that is requested or desired.

To ruffle (the hair) by combing from the ends toward the scalp for an airy, full effect.

Refusal to believe that a problem exists.

To raise the nap of (cloth) by dressing, as with a fuller's teasel.

(psychology) A defense mechanism involving a refusal to accept the truth of a phenomenon or prospect.

To cut (tissue, for example) into pieces for examination.

A disownment or disavowal

To extract, identify, or cause to come about. Used with out

The act of gainsaying, refusing, or disowning; negation; - the contrary of affirmation.

To annoy or make fun of someone persistently

A refusal to admit the truth of a statement, charge, imputation, etc.; assertion of the untruth of a thing stated or maintained; a contradiction.

An act of teasing, especially a playfully mocking remark

A refusal to grant; rejection of a request.

A person who makes fun of or annoys others, as with playful or taunting remarks.

A refusal to acknowledge; disclaimer of connection with; disavowal; - the contrary of confession; as, the denial of a fault charged on one; a denial of God.

A flirtatious person.

The act of refusing to comply (as with a request);

(transitive) To separate the fibres of (a fibrous material).

The act of asserting that something alleged is not true

(transitive) To comb (originally with teasels) so that the fibres all lie in one direction.

(psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts

(transitive) To backcomb.

Renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others

(transitive) To poke fun at, either cruelly or affectionately.

A defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him;

(transitive) To provoke or disturb; to annoy.

(transitive) To manipulate or influence the behavior of, especially by repeated acts of irritation.

(transitive) To entice, tempt.

To show as forthcoming, in the manner of a teaser.

One who teases.

A single act of teasing.

One who deliberately arouses others (usually men) sexually with no intention of satisfying that arousal.

To comb or card, as wool or flax.

To stratch, as cloth, for the purpose of raising a nap; teasel.

To tear or separate into minute shreds, as with needles or similar instruments.

To vex with importunity or impertinence; to harass, annoy, disturb, or irritate by petty requests, or by jests and raillery; to plague.

One who teases or plagues.

Someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)

A seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men

The act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances;

Annoy persistently;

Harass with persistent criticism or carping;

To arouse hope, desire, or curiosity without satisfying them;

Tear into pieces;

Raise the nap of (fabrics)

Disentangle and raise the fibers of;

Separate the fibers of;

Mock or make fun of playfully;

Ruffle (one's hair) by combing towards the ends towards the scalp, for a full effect