1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rejects
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 refuses
Bose Bluetooth Speaker Deal The Bose SoundLink Flex is a rugged, high-fidelity speaker that refuses to quit.
—
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
In many areas, the tournament refuses to modernize, such as its prohibition of cell phones.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Becky, who Brewer portrays as a fading cheerleader with an ebullience that turns sinister in a snap, refuses to take the hint after Max tries to drop her after a night on the town.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
At the same time, Beijing refuses to engage with Taiwan’s ruling party, which has won the presidency in three successive elections.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
More than a dozen countries are involved and billions of dollars of taxpayer money are being spent overseas when this administration refuses to actually spend a dime to make life more affordable for the American people.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
As Ukrainian forces brace for Russia’s spring offensive, Zelensky refuses any territorial compromise.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The state refuses to send the data to a lab capable of analyzing it, and refuses to give the defense its own copy of the data so it can be sent to the Texas lab.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
In some states, hospitals can seek a court order if a pregnant patient refuses a recommended intervention, arguing that the fetus has separate rights that must be protected.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
In many areas, the tournament refuses to modernize, such as its prohibition of cell phones.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Becky, who Brewer portrays as a fading cheerleader with an ebullience that turns sinister in a snap, refuses to take the hint after Max tries to drop her after a night on the town.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
At the same time, Beijing refuses to engage with Taiwan’s ruling party, which has won the presidency in three successive elections.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
More than a dozen countries are involved and billions of dollars of taxpayer money are being spent overseas when this administration refuses to actually spend a dime to make life more affordable for the American people.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
As Ukrainian forces brace for Russia’s spring offensive, Zelensky refuses any territorial compromise.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The state refuses to send the data to a lab capable of analyzing it, and refuses to give the defense its own copy of the data so it can be sent to the Texas lab.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
In some states, hospitals can seek a court order if a pregnant patient refuses a recommended intervention, arguing that the fetus has separate rights that must be protected.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
Husband of missing Michigan woman arrested in Bahamas; his attorney says Brian Hooker categorically denies wrongdoing in her disappearance.—
R.j. Rico,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Nine grandmothers, all in their nineties, staring down death without justice as a far-right Japanese government denies their history.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her death certificate lists the cause as accidental, but her dad rejects that with every fiber of his being.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Lyons, like Kennedy and other anti-vaccine advocates, rejects the idea that MAHA is anti-vaccine, instead casting it as an effort to challenge taboos and champion medical freedom.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the tech sector declines, the resulting drawdown can significantly reduce your base for withdrawals—at a point when there may be little time to recover.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
As access declines, downstream complications and costs will rise.—
Diego Schaps,
STAT,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Today’s anything-goes, zero-sum war for attention ignores the lessons learned in the Golden Age of advertising in the 1960s, when brands were sold with thoughtful, artistic, wise and playful takes on the human condition.—
Bruce Stockler,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
His inept Cabinet ignores, and actually encourages, his very weird and embarrassing meandering.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
