What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
declined
Example
I declined the invitation to the party since I had other plans. [declined: past tense]
Example
The company's profits declined by 20% this year. [declined: verb]
Example
The road has a steep decline towards the end. [decline: noun]
reject
Example
The committee decided to reject the proposal due to its impracticality. [reject: verb]
Example
He felt like a reject after being turned down for the job. [reject: noun]
Example
The factory rejected the faulty products during quality control. [rejected: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Declined is more commonly used in everyday language than reject. Declined is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while reject is more specific and often used in more formal or critical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between declined and reject?
Declined is generally considered more formal and polite than reject, which has a stronger and more negative connotation. However, both words can be used in formal or informal contexts depending on the situation and tone of the speaker.
