Reject vs. Refuse

Reject vs. Refuse — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Reject and Refuse

Rejectverb

(transitive) To refuse to accept.

She even rejected my improved offer.

Refuseadjective

Discarded, rejected.

Rejectverb

(basketball) To block a shot, especially if it sends the ball off the court.

Refusenoun

Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.

Rejectverb

To refuse a romantic advance.

I've been rejected three times this week.

Refusenoun

(obsolete) refusal

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Rejectnoun

Something that is rejected.

Refuseverb

(transitive) To decline (a request or demand).

My request for a pay rise was refused.

Rejectnoun

An unpopular person.

Refuseverb

(intransitive) To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.

I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused.

Rejectnoun

(colloquial) a rejected defective product in a production line

Refuseverb

(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
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Rejectnoun

the person or thing rejected or set aside as inferior in quality

Refuseverb

To disown.

Rejectverb

refuse to accept or acknowledge;

I reject the idea of starting a warThe journal rejected the student's paper

Refusenoun

food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

Rejectverb

refuse to accept;

He refused my offer of hospitality

Refuseverb

show unwillingness towards;

he declined to join the group on a hike

Rejectverb

deem wrong or inappropriate;

I disapprove of her child rearing methods

Refuseverb

refuse to accept;

He refused my offer of hospitality

Rejectverb

reject with contempt;

She spurned his advances

Refuseverb

elude, especially in a baffling way;

This behavior defies explanation

Rejectverb

resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ;

His body rejected the liver of the donor

Refuseverb

refuse to let have;

She denies me every pleasurehe denies her her weekly allowance

Rejectverb

refuse entrance or membership;

They turned away hundreds of fansBlack people were often rejected by country clubs

Refuseverb

resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ;

His body rejected the liver of the donor

Rejectverb

dismiss from consideration;

John was ruled out as a possible suspect because he had a strong alibiThis possibility can be eliminated from our consideration

Refuseverb

refuse entrance or membership;

They turned away hundreds of fansBlack people were often rejected by country clubs