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

That individual, who is a club employee, suffered a minor head injury and refused medical attention at the scene, fire officials said. — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

The lawyer who represented Reut during his first court hearing no longer represents him and refused to comment to CNN on the case. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Cox had long refused to carry the TV channel, citing the Dodgers’ high license fees. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Some of Petso's clients refused to sell even a portion of their holdings. — Cj Haddad,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Musk has refused to allow the use of Starlink over Russian territory. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Senate President Bill Ferguson once stood against partisan redistricting in Maryland and refused to join the national race to the bottom. — Yuripzy Morgan, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026

At Brown, Van Erem claimed that investigators found insufficient evidence to conclude that the university had violated Title VI, but said that administration officials refused to close the investigation. — Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

In March, Doctors Without Borders alleged that Gilead had refused to allow the nonprofit to purchase the drug directly for its own programs. — Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026