Difference between deny and refuse

Here are the differences between deny and refuse with examples:

Deny:

• Deny means to not allow or give something.
• It implies a stronger rejection than refuse.
• It is often used in a formal or official context.

Examples:

• The judge denied the request for bail.
• The government denied his application for a passport.
• The school denied admission to unqualified students.

Refuse:

• Refuse means to decline or reject something.
• It implies a more personal rejection than deny.
• It is often used in informal contexts.

Examples:

• She refused my offer to help her with the groceries.
• The child refused to eat his vegetables.
• The customer refused to pay the bill, claiming poor service.

In summary:

• Deny is more formal and implies a stronger, more definite rejection. It is often used in official contexts.
• Refuse is more informal and implies a less definite, personal rejection. It is often used in daily conversations.

So in general, deny is a stronger and more formal way to indicate rejection, while refuse is a milder and more informal way. The nuance is subtle but the contexts in which they are typically used do differ as illustrated in the examples.

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