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Refuse vs Dismiss - What's the difference?

refuse | dismiss |

In transitive terms the difference between refuse and dismiss

is that refuse is to decline (a request or demand) while dismiss is to reject; to refuse to accept.

As an adjective refuse

is discarded, rejected.

As a noun refuse

is collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

refuse

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Discarded, rejected.

    • Noun

    (-)
  • (UK) Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.
    • Synonyms
    * discards * garbage (US ) * rubbish (UK ) * trash (US ) * See also

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) refuser, from .

    Verb

    (refus)
  • To decline (a request or demand).
    • My request for a pay rise was refused .
    I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
  • * Bible, Isa. i. 20
    • If ye refuse ye shall be devoured with the sword.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 27 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Bayern Munich 2 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play.}}
  • To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
    • I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused .
  • (military) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the centre, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular alignment when troops are about to engage the enemy.
    • to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks
  • (obsolete) To disown.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Refuse thy name.
    Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See
    Synonyms
    * (decline) decline, reject, nill, say no to, turn down, veto, withsake * (decline a request or demand) say no, forbear

    Noun

  • (obsolete) refusal
    • (Fairfax)
    English heteronyms English reporting verbs ----

    dismiss

    English

    Verb

  • (senseid)(lb) To discharge; to end the employment or service of.
  • :
  • (lb) To order to leave.
  • :
  • (lb) To dispel; to rid one's mind of.
  • :
  • (lb) To reject; to refuse to accept.
  • :
  • *
  • *:"He was here," observed Drina composedly, "and father was angry with him." ¶ "What?" exclaimed Eileen. "When?" ¶ "This morning, before father went downtown." ¶ Both Selwyn and Lansing cut in coolly, dismissing the matter with a careless word or two; and coffee was served—cambric tea in Drina's case.
  • To get a batsman out.
  • :
  • To give someone a red card; to send off.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2010, date=December 28, author=Kevin Darlin, work=BBC
    • , title= West Brom 1-3 Blackburn , passage=Kalinic later saw red for a rash tackle on Paul Scharner before Gabriel Tamas was dismissed for bringing down Diouf.}}

    Related terms

    * dismissal