"Reject" and "refuse" are both verbs that describe the act of declining or turning down something, but there are some subtle differences in their usage and meaning: "Reject" typically refers to a situation where something is actively dismissed or considered unsuitable or unacceptable. For example, a college might reject a student's application if they don't meet the admission requirements or if they have a history of academic misconduct. In this case, the college is actively evaluating the application and making a decision based on certain criteria. "Refuse" generally implies a more passive or straightforward act of declining something without necessarily evaluating it or considering it in detail. For example, if someone offers you a piece of cake but you're on a diet and don't want to eat it, you might simply refuse it without giving it much thought. In this case, you're not necessarily making a judgment about the cake itself, but just politely declining it for personal reasons. Overall, the distinction between "reject" and "refuse" is often subtle and context-dependent, and the two words can sometimes be used interchangeably. However, "reject" is generally more formal and implies a more deliberate evaluation process, while "refuse" is more informal and implies a simpler act of declining.

Hi Olexandr, It would be helpful if you can give more context. Also do you mean the verbs 'to refuse' and 'to reject' or the nouns?

I see the difference being in the consideration given to whatever is rejected or refused. When something is "rejected", there is some reason. For instance, a product is defective, or they don't like you, etc. "Refusal" requires no reason whatsoever. The image in my mind is a person standing in front of you blocking your path, shaking his head, and saying "go away", but not necessarily for any particular reason. At least, that's my take.