refuse、decline、reject、repel与deny这些动词均含“拒绝”之意。
refuse : 语气较重，指态度坚决，肯定无疑的拒绝。
- He flatly refused to discuss the matter.
他断然拒绝商讨这件事。 - She refused to accept that there was a problem.
她拒不承认有问题存在。
decline : 指婉言谢绝他人的帮助或邀请等。
- I offered to give them a lift but they declined.
我主动邀请他们搭车，但他们婉言谢绝了。
reject : 多指由于某物某事某行为不能让人满意而被当面直截了当地拒绝。
- The prime minister rejected any idea of reforming the system.
首相对任何改革体制的想法都不予考虑。 - The proposal was firmly rejected.
这项提议被断然否决。
repel : 作“拒绝”解时，语气比reject强。
- It's because I was trying to repel you. Right?
那是因为我试着抗拒你，对吧？
deny : 指坚决地拒绝接受、给予或承认。
- She denied all knowledge of the incident.
她矢口否认知晓此事的任何情况。 - The department denies responsibility for what occurred.
这个部门拒绝为所发生的事承担责任。
