refuse

¹re·fuse

verb \ri-ˈfyüz\

re·fusedre·fus·ing

Definition of REFUSE

transitive verb

1

: to express oneself as unwilling to accept <refuse a gift> <refuse a promotion>

2

a : to show or express unwillingness to do or comply with <refused to answer the question> b : deny <they were refused admittance to the game>

3

obsolete : give up, renounce <deny thy father and refuse thy name — Shakespeare>

4

of a horse : to decline to jump or leap over

intransitive verb

: to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission

— re·fus·er noun

Examples of REFUSE

1. When they offered me the money, I couldn't refuse.
2. They asked her to help but she refused.

Origin of REFUSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French refuser, from Vulgar Latin *refusare, perhaps blend of Latin refutare to refute and recusare to demur — more at recuse

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to REFUSE

Synonyms: decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, deny, reject, reprobate, withhold

Antonyms: allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

Related Words: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms: afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafe

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at decline

Rhymes with REFUSE

abuse, accuse, amuse, Andrews, bad news, bemuse, berceuse, chanteuse, charmeuse, chartreuse, coiffeuse, confuse, contuse, danseuse, defuse, diffuse, diseuse, disuse, effuse, enthuse, excuse, ill-use, incuse, infuse, masseuse, misuse, perfuse, peruse, recluse, recuse, reuse, short fuse, suffuse, Toulouse, transfuse, vendeuse