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Oppose vs Refuse - What's the difference?

oppose | refuse |

As verbs the difference between oppose and refuse

is that oppose is to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand while refuse is to decline (a request or demand).

As an adjective refuse is

discarded, rejected.

As a noun refuse is

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

oppose

English

Verb

(oppos)
  • To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand.
    • to oppose''' the king in battle; to '''oppose a bill in Congress
    There is still time to oppose this plan.
  • To object to.
    • Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.
  • To present or set up in opposition; to pose.
    • They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.
  • * John Locke
    • I may oppose my single opinion to his.
  • * 1839 , Philip Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug
    • [T]hree walls had been left standing, with large intervals between each; and they would certainly oppose a most formidable interruption to an invader.
  • To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Her grace sat down / In a rich chair of state; opposing freely / The beauty of her person to the people.
  • To compete with; to strive against.
    • to oppose a rival for a prize
  • * Shakespeare
    • I am too weak / To oppose your cunning.

    Synonyms

    *

    Antonyms

    * support

    Related terms

    * opponent * opposer * opposite * opposition

    External links

    * * ----

    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 ----