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Refuse vs Withdraw - What's the difference?

refuse | withdraw |

In transitive terms the difference between refuse and withdraw

is that refuse is to decline (a request or demand) while withdraw is to extract (money from an account).

In intransitive terms the difference between refuse and withdraw

is that refuse is to decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission while withdraw is to be in withdrawal from an addictive drug etc.

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 ----

    withdraw

    English

    Verb

  • To pull (something) back, aside, or away.
  • * Hooker
    • Impossible it is that God should withdraw his presence from anything.
  • To take back (a comment, etc).
    • to withdraw false charges
  • To remove, to stop providing (one's support, etc).
  • To extract (money from an account).
  • To retreat.
  • To be in withdrawal from an addictive drug etc.
  • * 1994 , (Edward St Aubyn), Bad News , Picador 2006, p. 201:
    • Simon had tried to rob a bank while he was withdrawing , but he had been forced to surrender to the police after they had fired several volleys at him.