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zurückweisen
/t͡suˈʁʏkˌvaɪ̯zn̩/
reject
Der Antrag wurde vom Gericht zurückgewiesen.
The application was rejected by the court.
formal
To refuse or dismiss something or someone in a formal or authoritative manner.
Die Regierung wies die Forderungen der Opposition zurück.
The government rejected the opposition's demands.
Er wies die Vorwürfe als unbegründet zurück.
He dismissed the accusations as unfounded.
Commonly used in legal, administrative, or official contexts.
literal
To push someone or something away physically.
Sie wies ihn mit einer Handbewegung zurück.
She pushed him away with a hand gesture.
Less common than the figurative meaning.
Collocations
einen Antrag zurückweisento reject an applicationeinen Vorwurf zurückweisento dismiss an accusationjemanden zurückweisento reject someone
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'zurückweisen' in formal contexts (e.g., legal, administrative). In casual conversation, prefer 'ablehnen' or 'nicht akzeptieren'.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'zurückweisen' depends heavily on context. In legal contexts, it often translates to 'reject' or 'dismiss', while in physical contexts, it means 'push away'.
Word Origin
From 'zurück' (back) + 'weisen' (to point, indicate), originally meaning 'to send back'. The figurative sense of 'rejecting' developed in the 18th century.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in formal contexts. In everyday speech, 'ablehnen' or 'zurückweisen' are often interchangeable, but 'zurückweisen' carries a stronger sense of dismissal or refusal.
Word Breakdown
zurück
back, in return
prefixweisen
to point, indicate
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