Deny, Refuse, Reject, Decline

Deny, Refuse, Reject, Decline: What’s the Difference?

Hello English learners! Have you ever been unsure whether to use deny, refuse, reject, or decline? These four words look similar because they all deal with not accepting something. But in English, they aren’t interchangeable—they have their own meanings, contexts, and levels of formality.

In today’s lesson, we’ll look at the differences, with examples to help you use them correctly in your speaking, writing, and even Cambridge exams like FCE and CAE.

Deny

Meaning: To say that something is not true or that you did not do something. It’s about refusing to admit something. It is often used with accusations, facts, or rumours.

Common structure: deny + noun / deny + -ing form

Examples:

• She denied the accusation of cheating.
• He denied breaking the window.
• The company denies any responsibility for the problem.

Tip: Use deny when talking about truth, guilt, or responsibility.

Refuse

Meaning: Used to say no when asked to do something, or when offered something. It is about rejecting an action or offer.

Common structure: refuse + to + verb

Examples:

• She refused to help with the project.
• He refused to eat the vegetables.
• They refused to sign the contract.

Tip: Use refuse when someone is asked or offered something, and they say no.

Deny, Refuse, Reject, Decline

Reject

Meaning: To not accept, approve, or consider something/someone. It is stronger than refuse; it has to do with official decisions, products, or ideas and it is quite common in formal or professional settings.

Examples:

• His job application was rejected.
• The proposal was rejected by the committee.
• She felt hurt when her ideas were rejected.

Tip: Use reject for things like applications, proposals, or ideas that are officially not accepted.

Decline

Meaning: To politely say no to an offer, invitation, or suggestion. It is more formal and polite than refuse. Quite common in business, social invitations, and formal situations.

Examples:

• She declined the invitation to the party.
• He declined the job offer.
• The manager politely declined to comment.

Tip: Use decline when you want to refuse in a polite or formal way.

Quick comparison table

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