as in rejected
Related Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refused
Jason Henry, Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused, prompting a police chase.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither Evelyn nor Arthur was a member of the Communist Party and Arthur was eventually cleared but lost his job when the family, out of principle, refused to cancel their subscriptions to the left-leaning publications.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Some buildings, including one in midtown, are asking residents to keep recycling inside their apartments, which some users on an Upper East Side Reddit forum flatly refused to do.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 17 Apr. 2026
George Washington refused to kneel or take communion in the Anglican Church and appeared to hold religious beliefs blending Deism and Unitarianism.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
But the Lucky Dawg team refused to leave them behind.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
That year’s Republican National Convention filled its programming with second-raters (Scott Baio gave a prime-time speech), while Ted Cruz and other speakers refused to endorse Trump onstage; National Review famously published a special issue denouncing him.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
In the wake of Paul and Mortensen's ongoing legal battle, multiple sources also confirmed to PEOPLE in March that production had paused for the fifth season of Mormon Wives after Paul's fellow cast members refused to film with her.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
The county, however, refused to comply with the order to close in that case and has continued operating Los Padrinos in defiance.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused, prompting a police chase.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither Evelyn nor Arthur was a member of the Communist Party and Arthur was eventually cleared but lost his job when the family, out of principle, refused to cancel their subscriptions to the left-leaning publications.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Some buildings, including one in midtown, are asking residents to keep recycling inside their apartments, which some users on an Upper East Side Reddit forum flatly refused to do.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 17 Apr. 2026
George Washington refused to kneel or take communion in the Anglican Church and appeared to hold religious beliefs blending Deism and Unitarianism.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
But the Lucky Dawg team refused to leave them behind.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
That year’s Republican National Convention filled its programming with second-raters (Scott Baio gave a prime-time speech), while Ted Cruz and other speakers refused to endorse Trump onstage; National Review famously published a special issue denouncing him.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
In the wake of Paul and Mortensen's ongoing legal battle, multiple sources also confirmed to PEOPLE in March that production had paused for the fifth season of Mormon Wives after Paul's fellow cast members refused to film with her.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
-
If a parent applies for a Parent PLUS Loan and is denied, the student may automatically qualify for additional federal aid, up to $4,000 for underclassmen and $5,000 for upperclassmen.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
On April 9, he was denied bail.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Orbán rejected the accusations and denounced them as interference in Hungary’s sovereignty.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Richie said the company rejected the settlement demand and argued the state's workers' compensation program is the exclusive remedy for any injury in the workplace.—
Nicole Valdes,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In an email, Gardner declined to comment on the specifics of the situation.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The prosecutor declined to comment further to AP pending further investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But documents released by the government in March, after being forced to by Parliament, showed Starmer ignored red flags raised by his staff about the appointment.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
America’s $39 trillion national debt has become a familiar political football—batted around in budget negotiations, invoked at congressional hearings, and largely ignored between elections.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Leaving Polis off the guest list of a recent governors’ dinner at the White House was the latest slap in the face of many that include rescinded federal grants, a vetoed water bill, rejected disaster fund requests, and the loss of two federal agencies.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The truck crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed into the stopped Kia, striking the three pedestrians, CHP said.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refused. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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