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In some contexts, "to reject something" can mean very much the same as "to refuse something". For example:* b N9 k/ W8 f, |6 Q! L+ d
3 A/ ?/ E7 R8 T) ~; e# E"She refused the gift." ~ "She rejected the gift."* t1 N3 `1 y2 i1 d9 T }; p6 L2 h3 w4 _' O
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"She refused the offer of help." ~ "She rejected the offer of help."
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' y$ J" e" D, S8 l' ^- M2 W7 g$ ?In 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:
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"The company has rejected our latest batch of components."
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"He rejected my idea."& }, r9 j+ R: s5 m0 g
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"I applied for the job but was rejected."
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Some other differences that come to mind:. L. G' p6 ~2 Y! O
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"refuse" can be used with an infinitive (e.g. "She refused to go."), but "reject" can't.! F! S" ?* G. }0 m3 j7 O% `
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"refuse" can be used intransitively ("She refused.") but "reject" can't.
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* D+ }5 ~' F5 R4 dYou can be "refused something" (e.g. "She was refused entry.") but not "rejected something". |
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