Synonyms of refusal

refusal

noun

ri-ˈfyü-zəl 

as in rejection

an unwillingness to grant something asked for

his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rejection
• denial
• nonacceptance
• no
• declination
• nay
• disallowance
• rebuff
• injunction
• veto
• turndown
• repudiation
• repulse
• suppression
• spurn
• ban
• repression
• discouragement
• deterrence
• negative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approval
• grant
• allowance
• consent
• agreement
• permission
• acceptance
• sanction
• license
• authorization
• assent
• leave
• clearance
• accession
• acquiescence
• concurrence
• OK
• signature
• seal
• stamp
• sufferance
• imprimatur

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refusal

Hickerson’s refusal to cooperate resulted in two officers visiting his grandmother’s home in South Carolina on Wednesday, August 19. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 19 Aug. 2026

Anthony did not testify during the trial where students described a heated exchange over Anthony’s refusal on a rainy spring day to leave a tent that belonged to Metcalf’s team. — Jamie Stengle, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

In a statement Tuesday, Geo spokesman Christopher Ferreira did not comment on the company’s refusal to comply with the health order. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026

Those concerns coincided with a California court’s refusal to reduce felony domestic abuse charges against Hickerson to misdemeanors three days before Panettiere died, according to legal documents viewed by TMZ. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026