verweigern
Translation
to refuse, to deny, to decline
Examples
Er verweigerte die Aussage.
He refused to testify.
Man hat ihm das Visum verweigert.
He was denied the visa.
Grammar Patterns
((j-m)) ((et4)) verweigern to deny (sb.dat) (sth.acc) They denied him the visa.
((et4)) verweigern to refuse (sth.acc) He refused to testify.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ablehnen (to reject), abschlagen (to turn down); Antonyms: zustimmen (to agree), gewähren (to grant)
Etymology
Composed of the prefix `ver-` (often indicating something going wrong or away) and `weigern` (to refuse).
Memory Tips
Think of `ver-` as a strong 'no' or negation. When you `verweigern` something, you are strongly refusing it.