diff --git a/app/models/tag_alias.rb b/app/models/tag_alias.rb
index 9a09b6f42..12fb6bbc3 100644
--- a/app/models/tag_alias.rb
+++ b/app/models/tag_alias.rb
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ class TagAlias < TagRelationship
   has_many :tag_rel_undos, as: :tag_rel
 
   after_save :create_mod_action
-  validates :antecedent_name, uniqueness: { conditions: -> { duplicate_relevant } }
-  validate :absence_of_transitive_relation
+  validates :antecedent_name, uniqueness: { conditions: -> { duplicate_relevant } }, unless: :is_deleted?
+  validate :absence_of_transitive_relation, unless: :is_deleted?
 
   module ApprovalMethods
     def approve!(update_topic: true, approver: CurrentUser.user)
diff --git a/app/models/tag_implication.rb b/app/models/tag_implication.rb
index 10381c252..9c74539f8 100644
--- a/app/models/tag_implication.rb
+++ b/app/models/tag_implication.rb
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@ class TagImplication < TagRelationship
   after_destroy :update_descendant_names_for_parents
   after_save :update_descendant_names_for_parents
   after_save :create_mod_action, if: :saved_change_to_status?
-  validates :antecedent_name, uniqueness: { scope: [:consequent_name], conditions: -> { duplicate_relevant } }
-  validate :absence_of_circular_relation
-  validate :absence_of_transitive_relation
-  validate :antecedent_is_not_aliased
-  validate :consequent_is_not_aliased
+  with_options unless: :is_deleted? do
+    validates :antecedent_name, uniqueness: { scope: [:consequent_name], conditions: -> { duplicate_relevant } }
+    validate :absence_of_circular_relation
+    validate :absence_of_transitive_relation
+    validate :antecedent_is_not_aliased
+    validate :consequent_is_not_aliased
+  end
 
   module DescendantMethods
     extend ActiveSupport::Concern
diff --git a/test/unit/tag_alias_test.rb b/test/unit/tag_alias_test.rb
index 4db2df243..ff8eb50de 100644
--- a/test/unit/tag_alias_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/tag_alias_test.rb
@@ -154,13 +154,31 @@ class TagAliasTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
 
     should "error on approve if its not valid anymore" do
       create(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", status: "active")
-      ta = build(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", creator: @admin)
+      ta = build(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", status: "pending", creator: @admin)
       ta.save(validate: false)
       with_inline_jobs { ta.approve!(approver: @admin) }
 
       assert_match "error", ta.reload.status
     end
 
+    should "allow rejecting if an active duplicate exists" do
+      create(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", status: "active")
+      ta = build(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", status: "pending", creator: @admin)
+      ta.save(validate: false)
+      ta.reject!
+
+      assert_equal "deleted", ta.reload.status
+    end
+
+    should "allow rejecting if an active transitive exists" do
+      create(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", status: "active")
+      ta = build(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "bbb", consequent_name: "aaa", status: "pending", creator: @admin)
+      ta.save(validate: false)
+      ta.reject!
+
+      assert_equal "deleted", ta.reload.status
+    end
+
     context "with an associated forum topic" do
       setup do
         @admin = create(:admin_user)
diff --git a/test/unit/tag_implication_test.rb b/test/unit/tag_implication_test.rb
index fd5184636..b692c7c73 100644
--- a/test/unit/tag_implication_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/tag_implication_test.rb
@@ -121,6 +121,15 @@ class TagImplicationTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
       assert_includes(ti.errors[:base], "Consequent tag must not be aliased to another tag")
     end
 
+    should "allow rejecting if active aliases exist" do
+      create(:tag_alias, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb")
+      ti = build(:tag_implication, antecedent_name: "aaa", consequent_name: "bbb", status: "pending", creator: @user)
+      ti.save(validate: false)
+
+      ti.reject!
+      assert_equal("deleted", ti.reload.status)
+    end
+
     should "calculate all its descendants" do
       ti1 = create(:tag_implication, antecedent_name: "bbb", consequent_name: "ccc")
       assert_equal(%w[ccc], ti1.descendant_names)