1.從語氣上看：refuse 屬普通用詞；而 reject 則屬于正式用詞,多用于較正式的場合.
2.從意思上看：refuse 表示“拒絕”,強調(diào)態(tài)度的肯定和堅決；而 reject 則強調(diào)擯棄、不采用或不使用.
They refused him admittance.他們不允許他入場.
They rejected all the bad apples.他們?nèi)拥袅怂械膲奶O果.
注：若不嚴格區(qū)分,有時(如表示拒絕接受時)兩者也可換用.如：
He refused [rejected] her offer of help.他拒絕了她的援助提議.
The editors refused [rejected] this article.編輯拒不采用這篇文章.
3.從是否及物來看：refuse 可用作及物或不及物動詞,而 reject 通常只用作及物動詞.比較下面兩句動詞后賓語的有無：
I asked him to lend me his car,but he refused.我請求他把車借給我,但他拒絕了.
I proposed to her but she rejected me.我向她求婚,但被她拒絕了.
4.refuse 后可接不定式表示“拒絕做某事”,而 reject 通常不這樣用.如：
He refused to come to the meeting.他拒絕來參加會議.
The door refuses to open.這門打不開.