Synonyms of refused

refused 1 of 2

adjective

as in rejected

Related Words

• rejected
• revoked
• vetoed
• stopped
• disallowed
• discouraged
• prevented
• suppressed
• excluded
• repressed
• precluded
• disapproved
• unsanctioned
• objectionable
• unsuitable
• blocked
• shut out
• hindered
• unseemly
• improper
• inappropriate
• unauthorized
• ruled out
• obstructed
• ineffable
• illicit
• illegal
• impeded
• unmentionable
• unlawful
• unlicensed
• illegitimate

Dissimilar Words

• permitted
• permissible
• acceptable
• allowable
• appropriate
• permissive
• authorized
• accepted
• endorsed
• allowed
• approved
• legal
• legitimate
• lawful
• certified
• licensed
• tolerable
• OK
• bearable
• granted
• accredited
• warranted
• endurable
• sanctioned
• supported
• promoted
• commanded
• encouraged
• sufferable
• required
• ordered
• mandatory
• suitable
• proper
• vouchsafed
• accorded
• tolerated
• condoned
• countenanced
• brooked
• unobjectionable
• seemly

refused

2 of 2

verb

past tense of refuse

1

as in denied

to be unwilling to grant

the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews

Synonyms & Similar Words

• denied
• rejected
• declined
• withheld
• disallowed
• disapproved
• forbade
• vetoed
• nixed
• prohibited
• kept
• restricted
• banned
• negatived
• enjoined
• reprobated
• rebuffed
• spurned
• proscribed
• restrained
• checked
• repelled
• constrained
• held
• impeded
• hindered
• curbed
• obstructed
• repressed
• balked (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• allowed
• let
• permitted
• granted
• provided
• conceded
• gave
• supplied
• afforded
• furnished
• authorized
• commissioned
• licensed
• acquiesced
• agreed (to)
• warranted
• consented (to)
• sanctioned
• accorded
• OK'd
• assented (to)
• acceded (to)
• vouchsafed

2

as in declined

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

she refused the award, citing the hard work of others who deserved the recognition more than she did

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rejected
• declined
• denied
• ignored
• passed
• vetoed
• withdrew
• dismissed
• forbade
• avoided
• spurned
• disapproved
• disputed
• nixed
• repudiated
• balked (at)
• turned down
• deselected
• passed up
• threw over
• threw out
• reprobated
• negatived
• overruled
• rebuffed
• disdained
• prohibited
• scorned
• scouted
• retracted
• renounced
• revoked
• recalled
• turned one's back on
• proscribed
• forbore
• contradicted
• disavowed
• recanted
• disclaimed
• blew off
• refrained (from)
• refuted
• shot down
• abjured
• stuck
• abstained (from)
• took back
• gainsaid
• disowned
• bypassed
• disallowed
• forswore
• reneged
• rebutted
• disproved
• detoured
• backtracked
• controverted
• disagreed (with)
• negated
• backed off
• unsaid
• backed down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepted
• approved
• agreed (to)
• received
• took
• adopted
• agreed
• tolerated
• swallowed
• welcomed
• embraced
• consented
• acquiesced
• chose
• selected
• condoned
• countenanced
• supported
• acceded
• assented
• espoused
• handpicked

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refused

Adjective

Eight were transported to a local hospital and four refused transport. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Verb

Burnham has refused to rule out tax hikes, and the British press is reporting that windfall taxes targeting banks might be on the table. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Iran has continued to attack some tankers shuttling oil through the strait – but those could be ships that refused to pay a toll, Brouhard suggested. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

But the procedure had to be postponed because Banner refused to accept an $11,000 payment, close to what Medicare would pay for a similar procedure. — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

The Pentagon has refused to release the identities of those killed in the strikes since last year. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

The casino refused to pay, Ivey sued, and the two sides spent the next five years locked in a legal battle that went all the way to the UK Supreme Court. — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026

And yet, as the chants rained and his teammates soared, Young refused to do something that he was entitled to do in the moment. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026

Sirianni took the fall and refused to pin the blame solely on new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

When Greg Abbott, the Texas governor, refused Minnesota’s request, Castro was released. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026