What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
declined
Example
I declined the invitation to the party since I had other plans. [declined: past tense]
Example
The company's profits have declined over the past year. [declined: verb]
Example
The road declined towards the river, making it difficult to walk. [declined: adjective]
deny
Example
He denied stealing the money from the cash register. [denied: past tense]
Example
The company denied the workers' request for a pay raise. [denied: verb]
Example
She denied that she had been cheating on the test. [denied: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Deny is more commonly used than declined in everyday language, especially in legal or official settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between declined and deny?
Both declined and deny can be used in formal or informal contexts, but declined is generally considered more polite and formal than deny, which can be confrontational and accusatory.
