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Reject vs Refuse - What's the difference?

reject | refuse |

Refuse is a synonym of reject.



In transitive terms the difference between reject and refuse

is that reject is to refuse to accept while refuse is to decline (a request or demand).

As an adjective refuse is

discarded, rejected.

reject

English

(wikipedia reject)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To refuse to accept.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.}}
  • (basketball) To block a shot, especially if it sends the ball off the court.
  • Synonyms

    * (refuse to accept) decline, refuse, turn down, repudiate, disown, abnegate, abjure, deny

    Antonyms

    * (refuse to accept) accept, take up

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that is rejected.
  • An unpopular person.
  • Synonyms

    * (something that is rejected) castaway * (an unpopular person) outcast, castaway, alien

    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 ----