Refuse vs. Rubbish — What's the Difference?
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Difference Between Refuse and Rubbish
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Definitions
Refuse
To indicate unwillingness to do, accept, give, or allow
She was refused admittance. He refused treatment.
Rubbish
Waste material; refuse or litter
Householders may be charged for the removal of non-recyclable rubbish
Refuse
To indicate unwillingness (to do something)
Refused to leave.
Rubbish
Criticize severely and reject as worthless
He rubbished the idea of a European Community-wide carbon tax
Refuse
To decline to jump (an obstacle). Used of a horse.
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Rubbish
Very bad; worthless or useless
She was rubbish at maths
People might say I was a rubbish manager
Refuse
To decline to do, accept, give, or allow something.
Rubbish
Refuse; garbage.
Refuse
Items or material discarded or rejected as useless or worthless; trash or rubbish.
Rubbish
Worthless material.
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Refuse
Discarded, rejected.
Rubbish
Foolish discourse; nonsense.
Refuse
Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.
Rubbish
Refuse, waste, garbage, junk, trash.
The rubbish is collected every Thursday in Gloucester, but on Wednesdays in Cheltenham.
Refuse
(obsolete) refusal
Rubbish
An item, or items, of low quality.
Much of what they sell is rubbish.
Refuse
(transitive) To decline (a request or demand).
My request for a pay rise was refused.
Rubbish
Nonsense.
Everything the teacher said during that lesson was rubbish. How can she possibly think that a bass viol and a cello are the same thing?
Refuse
(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.
Rubbish
(archaic) Debris or ruins of buildings.
Refuse
(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
Rubbish
Exceedingly bad; awful.
This has been a rubbish day, and it’s about to get worse: my mother-in-law is coming to stay.
Refuse
To disown.
Rubbish
Used to express that something is exceedingly bad, awful, or terrible.
The one day I actually practice my violin, the teacher cancels the lesson.
Aw, rubbish! Though at least this means you have time to play football.
Aw, rubbish! Though at least this means you have time to play football.
Refuse
To melt again.
Rubbish
Used to express that what was recently said is nonsense or untrue; balderdash!, nonsense!
Rubbish! I did nothing of the sort!
Refuse
To deny, as a request, demand, invitation, or command; to decline to do or grant.
That never yet refused your hest.
Rubbish
To criticize, to denigrate, to denounce, to disparage.
Refuse
To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the center, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular aligment when troops ar about to engage the enemy; as, to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks.
Rubbish
To litter.
Refuse
To decline to accept; to reject; to deny the request or petition of; as, to refuse a suitor.
The cunning workman never doth refuseThe meanest tool that he may chance to use.
Rubbish
Waste or rejected matter; anything worthless; valueless stuff; trash; especially, fragments of building materials or fallen buildings; ruins; débris.
What rubbish and what offal!
He saw the town's one half in rubbish lie.
Refuse
To disown.
Rubbish
Of or pertaining to rubbish; of the quality of rubbish; trashy.
Refuse
To deny compliance; not to comply.
Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse.
If ye refuse . . . ye shall be devoured with the sword.
Rubbish
Worthless material that is to be disposed of
Refuse
Refusal.
Rubbish
Nonsensical talk or writing
Refuse
That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter.
Rubbish
Attack strongly
Refuse
Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless.
Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Refuse
Food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
Refuse
Show unwillingness towards;
He declined to join the group on a hike
Refuse
Refuse to accept;
He refused my offer of hospitality
Refuse
Elude, especially in a baffling way;
This behavior defies explanation
Refuse
Refuse to let have;
She denies me every pleasure
He denies her her weekly allowance
Refuse
Resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ;
His body rejected the liver of the donor
Refuse
Refuse entrance or membership;
They turned away hundreds of fans
Black people were often rejected by country clubs