Refuse vs. reject: what’s the difference?
The short answer
The word refuse can imply a personal decision or denial, often derived from a sense of unwillingness. Reject can imply a more formal or forceful dismissal, and can also suggest a decision based on standards, criteria, or judgment. Additionally, reject can be used as a noun, while refuse as a noun refers to waste or garbage.
What they have in common
Both refuse and reject imply not accepting or not agreeing to something that is offered, proposed, or intended. They are both used to indicate denial or dismissal of something.
Examples
refuse
- She refused to eat the vegetables.
- He refused the job offer because it was too far from home.
- They refused to accept the terms of the agreement.
reject
- The editor rejected the manuscript for publication.
- He rejected their proposal after careful consideration.
- The company rejected the batch of materials due to quality issues.
Which one is more common?
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