Deny vs. Reject: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Denying means refusing to acknowledge the truth or existence of something, while rejecting involves dismissing or declining to accept something.
Key Differences
Deny typically involves a refusal to acknowledge the truth or existence of something, often used in the context of allegations or accusations. Reject, however, means to refuse to accept, consider, or submit to something, commonly used in the context of ideas, proposals, or items. Denying is about not admitting to a fact or claim, while rejecting is about not accepting what is offered or proposed.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
In a legal context, to deny can mean to formally refuse to admit guilt or responsibility. To reject in legal terms often refers to a court or jury dismissing a case or argument. Denying something in court is a refusal to accept a claim as true, whereas rejecting is more about not accepting the validity or adequacy of legal reasoning or evidence.
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Nov 17, 2023
In personal relationships, denying might involve refusing to acknowledge one's feelings or actions. Rejecting in relationships could mean not accepting someone's advances or proposals. While denying might be used to avoid confrontation or protect oneself, rejecting is often a clear and direct response to an offer or suggestion.
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Nov 17, 2023
When used in the context of ideas or beliefs, to deny can mean to refuse to accept the validity of these concepts. In contrast, to reject a belief or idea is to consider it and then dismiss it as unacceptable or unsuitable. Denying often implies a negation or refusal to acknowledge, whereas rejecting implies a decision after consideration.
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Nov 17, 2023
In business, denying could refer to refuting a claim or accusation, such as denying responsibility for a mistake. Rejecting in business usually refers to declining offers, proposals, or applications. Denial in this context is about disavowing knowledge or association, while rejection is about not accepting what is proposed.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Refusal to admit truth or existence.
Dismissal or refusal to accept.
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Context of Usage
Allegations, accusations, truths.
Offers, proposals, ideas, items.
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Implication
Negation or refusal to acknowledge.
Decision after consideration to dismiss.
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Legal Usage
Refusing to admit guilt or responsibility.
Dismissing a case or argument.
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In Relationships
Not acknowledging feelings or actions.
Not accepting advances or proposals.
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In Business
Refuting claims or accusations.
Declining offers, proposals, or applications.
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Deny and Reject Definitions
Deny
To declare something as not true.
She denied the rumors about her resignation.
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Reject
To turn down a suggestion or plan.
The committee rejected the proposed amendment.
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Deny
To not admit the truth of a statement.
The suspect denied any involvement in the crime.
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Reject
To deem something as unsuitable.
The editor rejected the manuscript for publishing.
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Deny
To refuse to accept a claim as valid.
The company denied the customer's complaint for a refund.
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Reject
To refuse to accept or consider an offer.
She rejected the job offer due to the location.
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Deny
To refuse to acknowledge a connection.
He denied knowing the person in question.
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Reject
To not grant a requested item or privilege.
The bank rejected his loan application.
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Deny
To formally state non-admission in court.
The defendant denied the charges against him.
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Reject
To refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or make use of
He rejected their version of what happened. The store rejected the merchandise because it was damaged.
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Deny
To declare untrue; assert to be false
"A senior officer denied that any sensitive documents had been stored there" (Scott Ritter).
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Reject
(transitive) To refuse to accept.
She even rejected my improved offer.
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Reject
(basketball) To block a shot, especially if it sends the ball off the court.
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Deny
To refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disavow
The official denied any wrongdoing.
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Reject
To refuse a romantic advance.
I've been rejected three times this week.
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Deny
To decline to grant or allow; refuse
Deny the student's request.
Denied the prisoner food or water.
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Deny
To give a refusal to; turn down or away
The protesters were determined not to be denied.
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Deny
(transitive) To disallow or reject.
I wanted to go to the party, but I was denied.
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Deny
(transitive) To assert that something is not true.
I deny that I was at the party.
Everyone knows he committed the crime, but he still denies it.
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Reject
To cast from one; to throw away; to discard.
Therefore all this exercise of hunting . . . the Utopians have rejected to their butchers.
Reject me not from among thy children.
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Deny
(ditransitive) To refuse to give or grant something to someone.
My father denied me a good education.
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Reject
To refuse to receive or to acknowledge; to decline haughtily or harshly; to repudiate.
That golden scepter which thou didst reject.
Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me.
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Deny
To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, etc.; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow.
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Reject
Refuse to accept or acknowledge;
I reject the idea of starting a war
The journal rejected the student's paper
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Deny
To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; - opposed to affirm, allow, or admit.
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Reject
Deem wrong or inappropriate;
I disapprove of her child rearing methods
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Deny
To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce.
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Deny
To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse to gratify or yield to; as, to deny a request.
Who finds not Providence all good and wise,Alike in what it gives, and what denies?
To some men, it is more agreeable to deny a vicious inclination, than to gratify it.
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Reject
Resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ;
His body rejected the liver of the donor
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Deny
To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow.
The falsehood of denying his opinion.
Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved.
Let him deny himself, and take up his cross.
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Reject
Refuse entrance or membership;
They turned away hundreds of fans
Black people were often rejected by country clubs
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Deny
To answer in negative; to declare an assertion not to be true.
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid.
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Reject
Dismiss from consideration;
John was ruled out as a possible suspect because he had a strong alibi
This possibility can be eliminated from our consideration
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Deny
Declare untrue; contradict;
He denied the allegations
She denied that she had taken money
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Reject
To refuse someone’s romantic interest.
He rejected her invitation for a date.
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Deny
Refuse to grant, as of a petition or request;
The dean denied the students' request for more physics courses
The prisoners were denied the right to exercise for more than 2 hours a day
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Deny
Refuse to let have;
She denies me every pleasure
He denies her her weekly allowance
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Deny
Deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure;
She denied herself wine and spirits
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Deny
Deny formally (an allegation of fact by the opposing party) in a legal suit
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "deny" be used to describe refusing a request?
Yes, you can use "deny" to describe refusing a request, offer, or permission.
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Nov 17, 2023
What's the difference between "deny" and "disclaim"?
"Deny" is to refuse something's truth or existence, while "disclaim" is to deny any responsibility or connection to something.
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Nov 17, 2023
What does "deny" mean in English?
"Deny" means to refuse to admit the truth or existence of something.
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Nov 17, 2023
What does "reject" mean in English?
"Reject" means to dismiss or refuse to accept something.
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Nov 17, 2023
What's the difference between "reject" and "refuse"?
"Reject" is often used for items or offers, while "refuse" is a broader term that can apply to actions or requests as well.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is "deny" always used to reject something?
"Deny" is often used to reject something, but it can also relate to denying the truth or existence of a statement.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can "deny" be used in a legal context?
Yes, "deny" is commonly used in legal settings to refute allegations or claims.
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Nov 17, 2023
What's the opposite of "deny"?
The opposite of "deny" is "admit" or "acknowledge."
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Nov 17, 2023
Is "deny" the same as "negate"?
They are similar but not identical. "Negate" means to nullify or make something ineffective, whereas "deny" focuses on refusing to admit or acknowledge.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can "deny" be used to describe denying oneself something?
Yes, you can use "deny" to express the act of intentionally refusing or abstaining from something.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is "deny" a transitive or intransitive verb?
"Deny" can be both transitive and intransitive, depending on the sentence structure.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is "reject" synonymous with "disapprove"?
No, "reject" and "disapprove" have different meanings. "Reject" is about refusing, while "disapprove" is about expressing a negative opinion.
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Nov 17, 2023
What's the opposite of "reject"?
The opposite of "reject" is "accept" or "approve."
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Is "reject" primarily a verb or a noun?
"Reject" can function as both a verb and a noun.
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Can "reject" be used in a social context?
Yes, "reject" can be used to describe social situations where someone is dismissed or not accepted.
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Can "deny" be used to describe denying access to a place?
Yes, "deny" can be used to describe refusing access to a location or denying entry.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is "reject" a formal or informal word?
"Reject" can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
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Is "reject" always used in a negative context?
While "reject" often implies a negative action of refusal, it can also be used in neutral or positive contexts.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can "reject" be used to describe declining a job offer?
Yes, "reject" is commonly used to describe turning down a job offer.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can "reject" be used to describe rejecting an idea or proposal?
Yes, "reject" can be used to express the act of declining or dismissing an idea or proposal.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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