Positive thinking is usually met with shouts of, "Denial" from smug onlookers.
de·ni·al (d-nl)
n.
1. A refusal to comply with or satisfy a request.
2.
a. A refusal to grant the truth of a statement or allegation; a contradiction.
b. Law The opposing by a defendant of an allegation of the plaintiff.
3.
a. A refusal to accept or believe something, such as a doctrine or belief.
b. Psychology An unconscious defense mechanism characterized by refusal to acknowledge painful realities, thoughts, or feelings.
4. The act of disowning or disavowing; repudiation.
5. Abstinence; self-denial.
[From deny.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words AntonymsNoun 1. denial - the act of refusing to comply (as with a request); "it resulted in a complete denial of his privileges"
speech act - the use of language to perform some act
abnegation - the denial and rejection of a doctrine or belief; "abnegation of the Holy Trinity"
naysaying - the act of saying no to a request
negative - a reply of denial; "he answered in the negative"
refusal - the act of refusing
disavowal, disclaimer - denial of any connection with or knowledge of
2. denial - the act of asserting that something alleged is not true
assertion, asseveration, averment - a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)
negation - the speech act of negating
3. denial - (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
psychiatry, psychological medicine, psychopathology - the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders
defence, defence mechanism, defence reaction, defense mechanism, defense reaction, defense - (psychiatry) an unconscious process that tries to reduce the anxiety associated with instinctive desires
4. denial - renunciation of your own interests in favor of the interests of others
self-abnegation, self-renunciation, abnegation, self-denial
forgoing, forswearing, renunciation - the act of renouncing; sacrificing or giving up or surrendering (a possession or right or title or privilege etc.)
self-sacrifice, selflessness - acting with less concern for yourself than for the success of the joint activity
5. denial - a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him; "he gave evidence for the defense"
demurrer, defence, defense
due process, due process of law - (law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards
trial - (law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial examination of issues by a competent tribunal; "most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial"
entrapment - a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials
jurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
mark before-anyone-else-says-it;-not-just-a-river-in-Egypt Bailey