Recovery topic of the day: Denial Whether it’s out in the open or hiding behind the scenes, denial is often present in active addiction. Here’s my (subjective) definition of denial within the context of addiction: to refuse the acceptance or acknowledge of; absurd or illogical behaviors that allow someone to continue engaging in their habit. People in addiction can develop denial in order to rationalize and “protect” their harmful behaviors. Keep in mind that your definition of denial might be different than mine, and that’s ok! What does denial mean to you?