Demur vs. Defer — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Demur and Defer
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Compare with Definitions
Demur
Raise objections or show reluctance
Normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred
Defer
Put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone
They deferred the decision until February
Demur
The action of objecting to or hesitating over something
They accepted this ruling without demur
Defer
Submit to or acknowledge the merit of
He deferred to Tim's superior knowledge
Demur
To voice opposition; object
Demurred at the suggestion.
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Defer
To put off; postpone.
Demur
(Law) To enter a demurrer.
Defer
To postpone the induction of (one eligible for the military draft).
Demur
(Archaic) To delay.
Defer
To submit to the wish or decision of another, as in recognition of authority.
Demur
The act of demurring.
Defer
To commit or entrust to another
The principal deferred the decision to the school board.
Demur
An objection.
Defer
(transitive) To delay or postpone
Demur
To linger; to stay; to tarry
Defer
To postpone induction into military service.
Demur
(intransitive) To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
Defer
(American football) After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
Demur
(intransitive) To scruple or object; to take exception; to oppose; to balk
I demur to that statement.
The personnel demurred at the management's new scheme.
Defer
(intransitive) To delay, to wait.
Demur
To interpose a demurrer.
Defer
(ambitransitive) To submit to the opinion or desire of others in respect to their judgment or authority.
Demur
To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about
Defer
To render, to offer.
Demur
To cause delay to; to put off
Defer
To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold.
Defer the spoil of the city until night.
God . . . will not long deferTo vindicate the glory of his name.
Demur
An act of hesitation as to proceeding; a scruple; also, a suspension of action or decision; a pause, a stop.
Defer
To put off; to delay to act; to wait.
Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure.
Demur
To linger; to stay; to tarry.
Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp.
Defer
To render or offer.
Worship deferred to the Virgin.
Demur
To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair.
Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur.
Defer
To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; - with to.
Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
Demur
To scruple or object; to take exception, especailly on the basis of scruple or modesty; as, I demur to that statement; they wanted to make him president, but he demurred.
When introduced as the world's smartest man, he was not inclined to demur.
Defer
To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; - with to.
The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced.
Demur
To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.
Defer
Hold back to a later time;
Let's postpone the exam
Demur
To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about.
The latter I demur, for in their looksMuch reason, and in their actions, oft appears.
Defer
Submit or yield to another's wish or opinion;
The government bowed to the military pressure
Demur
To cause delay to; to put off.
He demands a fee,And then demurs me with a vain delay.
Demur
Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple.
All my demurs but double his attacks;At last he whispers, "Do; and we go snacks."
Demur
(law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings
Demur
Take exception to;
He demurred at my suggestion to work on Saturday
Demur
Enter a demurrer
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