Distinguishing Reject & Refuse: A Comparison

Key Difference – Reject vs Refuse

Reject and refuse are two verbs with similar meanings, expressing one’s unwillingness to do something. The main difference between them is in their grammatical structure; reject is a transitive verb while refuse is both transitive and intransitive. As a result, reject is only followed by nouns, while refuse can be followed by both nouns and infinitive verbs.

What Does Refuse Mean?

Refuse, as a verb, indicates unwillingness to accept or do something. For example, if you don’t want to accept a gift from a stranger, you can refuse it. If you don’t want to do something your friend is telling you to do, you can refuse to do it. Refuse can be followed by either a noun or a verb, but it is most often followed by an infinitive verb.

As a noun, refuse refers to worthless or useless parts of something, synonymous with rubbish or leavings.

What Does Reject Mean?

Reject, as a transitive verb, means to refuse to accept, believe, submit to, or use something, or to dismiss something as unacceptable, incorrect, or inadequate. It is always followed by a noun.

As a noun, reject refers to a thing or person who has been dismissed as unacceptable or inadequate.

What is the difference between Reject and Refuse?

• Reject refers to the refusal to accept, believe, submit to, or use something, or to dismiss something as unacceptable, incorrect, or inadequate.
• Refuse indicates one’s unwillingness to accept or do something.
• Reject is a transitive verb, while refuse can be used as a transitive and intransitive verb.
• Reject is always followed by a noun, while refuse can be followed by a noun or an infinitive verb.
• The noun reject refers to a thing or person who has been dismissed as unacceptable or inadequate, while the noun refuse refers to worthless or useless parts of something.