as in rejected
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refused
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
In his news conference, Zverev refused to be drawn on his on-court outburst.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
One passenger, a man, refused transport to the hospital.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Peña’s deportation officer and the medical contractor at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center refused to tell her.
—Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The Department of Justice refused to open such an investigation into the killing of Renee Good.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
For those without power who refused to leave, officers helped charge phones and get groceries.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Scherzer got in the manager’s face and refused to go.
—Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump has repeatedly aired his grievances with NATO and recently refused to ruled out leaving the alliance over his contentious push to annex Greenland.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Unlike his friends Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich, Gerron refused to leave Germany and was ultimately sent to the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, along with many other cultural icons of his time.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
In his news conference, Zverev refused to be drawn on his on-court outburst.
—Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
One passenger, a man, refused transport to the hospital.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Peña’s deportation officer and the medical contractor at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center refused to tell her.
—Claudia Boyd-Barrett, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The Department of Justice refused to open such an investigation into the killing of Renee Good.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
For those without power who refused to leave, officers helped charge phones and get groceries.
—Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Scherzer got in the manager’s face and refused to go.
—Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Trump has repeatedly aired his grievances with NATO and recently refused to ruled out leaving the alliance over his contentious push to annex Greenland.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
-
On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had denied Thompson's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tehran has denied the allegations.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Among other measures, the settlement stipulates that Columbia won't consider race in admissions, programming or hiring, will provide a demographic and academics breakdown of all rejected and admitted students, and will review its international admissions process.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The panel declined to rule on whether switchblades should be considered arms protected by the Second Amendment and ruled instead that California’s prohibition can remain in place because there are a sufficient number of historically similar laws banning other types of knives and bladed weapons.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Aubuchon declined an interview with The Enquirer via media relations firm Strategic Advisers.—
Jolene Almendarez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Banfield's at-times tense testimony comes after his attorney scrutinized the county's investigation into the defendant, arguing that officials, almost since the beginning, forced a theory that the husband had catfished and killed his wife, and ignored evidence that undermined that conclusion.—
OLIVIA DIAZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Their position ignored the Ukrainian perspective on the issue, thus excluding Ukrainians as the affected party from understanding and communicating current and historical narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
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One clip appears to show a Waymo vehicle stopped while other vehicles illegally pass a stopped bus.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
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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 4 Feb. 2026.
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