Definitions
- Referring to a polite refusal of an invitation or offer. - Talking about a decrease or reduction in something, such as sales or profits. - Describing a sloping or angled position or direction.
- Refusing to admit or acknowledge something is true or real. - Rejecting a request or demand for something. - Accusing someone of lying or being dishonest.
List of Similarities
- 1Both involve refusing something.
- 2Both can be used in formal or informal contexts.
- 3Both can be used in various tenses and forms.
- 4Both can be used in legal or official settings.
- 5Both can be used to express disagreement or opposition.
What is the difference?
- 1Object of refusal: Declined is used to refuse an invitation or offer while deny is used to refuse an accusation or request.
- 2Truthfulness: Declined does not imply dishonesty or deception while deny implies that the person is not telling the truth.
- 3Emotion: Declined is neutral and polite while deny can be confrontational and accusatory.
- 4Consequences: Deny can have legal or serious consequences while declined usually does not.
- 5Usage: Deny is more commonly used than declined in everyday language.
Remember this!
While both declined and deny involve refusing something, they differ in their object of refusal, truthfulness, emotion, consequences, and usage. Declined is used to politely refuse an invitation or offer or describe a decrease in something, while deny is used to reject an accusation or request or accuse someone of lying. Deny is more confrontational and has legal implications, while declined is more neutral and polite.
