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In some contexts, "to reject something" can mean very much the same as "to refuse something". For example:$ P7 k1 h3 q8 v' y: n& K% c* \
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"She refused the gift." ~ "She rejected the gift."
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0 `7 m8 b; {# }8 ~3 T1 U$ w"She refused the offer of help." ~ "She rejected the offer of help."
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/ [/ S; j: E, q9 G" qIn other contexts, "to reject something" implies that something is taken into one's possession, or is under one's consideration, but is then a decision is subsequently taken to return or discard it. In these cases, "reject" is often preferred to "refuse". For example:$ l# Z" V8 A: X+ N# |# [3 j
* n3 ^/ p( l3 p: W2 V4 {( a5 l"The company has rejected our latest batch of components."
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8 z3 |3 i2 i6 v7 a" i$ I) H"He rejected my idea."7 h' r e6 D% t* e
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"I applied for the job but was rejected."
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Some other differences that come to mind:
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"refuse" can be used with an infinitive (e.g. "She refused to go."), but "reject" can't.
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"refuse" can be used intransitively ("She refused.") but "reject" can't.( G9 f8 ~4 ]% @" _, ]2 W, k
! b; o& u6 c8 R% C9 t0 TYou can be "refused something" (e.g. "She was refused entry.") but not "rejected something". |
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