deniability

noun

de·​ni·​abil·​i·​ty dē-ˌnī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce deniability (audio)
: the ability to deny something especially on the basis of being officially uninformed

Examples of deniability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Quds Force cultivated Iraqi militias as proxies, providing weapons, funding and training that allowed Iran to attack American forces while maintaining a degree of deniability. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Cady turns their lives into a trap of paranoia and, indeed, fear, while procuring plausible deniability to avoid consequences. — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 To avoid that bottleneck and give all lawmakers some deniability when local bases were closed, Congress gave the job to an independent commission. — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 There is plausible deniability here because celebrating looks a lot like crowd work at this level, but the question does need asking. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deniability

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deniability was in 1973

Rhymes for deniability

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Browse Nearby Words

deni
deniability
deniable
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Cite this Entry

“Deniability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deniability. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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