as in rejected
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in denied
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refused
Brian Bennett, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
During our first visit, Maryam, embarrassed by her English, refused to ask the salesperson a question.
—Jennifer Obel, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026
The congregants are media-savvy; many refused to give full names to avoid appearing to speak for their offices.
—Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite multiple warnings from police, the group refused to move to the sidewalk.
—Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
When a grand jury refused to indict him for any violent crime—astonishing for the time—Morgenthau convened a second.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Google, Meta, Microsoft’s LinkedIn, and Elon Musk’s X have all delayed, adjusted, or flat-out refused to launch AI products because of the bloc’s laws.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2025
And the defense refused to yield.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
What Thune, who has refused to negotiate, might promise on health care is unknown.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
There were the elections in 2024 that the opposition won, but Maduro refused to accept the result.
—Brian Bennett, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
During our first visit, Maryam, embarrassed by her English, refused to ask the salesperson a question.
—Jennifer Obel, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026
The congregants are media-savvy; many refused to give full names to avoid appearing to speak for their offices.
—Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Despite multiple warnings from police, the group refused to move to the sidewalk.
—Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026
When a grand jury refused to indict him for any violent crime—astonishing for the time—Morgenthau convened a second.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Google, Meta, Microsoft’s LinkedIn, and Elon Musk’s X have all delayed, adjusted, or flat-out refused to launch AI products because of the bloc’s laws.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2025
And the defense refused to yield.
—Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
What Thune, who has refused to negotiate, might promise on health care is unknown.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
-
At the time, ICE had requested local officials hold him in jail, but that request was denied, the affidavit said.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The agency that was set to investigate before being denied access to evidence and case materials is called the Force Investigations Unit of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, part of the Department of Public Safety.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a liberal Democrat with a pragmatist bent, instantly rejected the suggestion that Mamdani represented the new face of the Democratic Party.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Demonstrators argued that taxpayer money should not be used to harm or kill innocent people and rejected claims that the killing of Good was an act of self-defense.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Since the mandate, neural tube defects have dramatically declined in almost every single ethnic population except for Latinos, according to Jaffery.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 12,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Wiener declined to answer the question in either direction.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even humble fiber, often ignored in favor of flashy nutrients, plays a massive role.—
Rachel Macpherson,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The Legislature should also consider the fact that Florida’s public integrity laws are all too frequently ignored.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Transparency instead of testing Where the vetoed SB 1047 would have mandated safety testing and kill switches for AI systems, the new law focuses on disclosure.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refused. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
