1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refuses
And Avery refuses to let that happen.
—
Ryan Wilusz, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
But the porch light, with only one working bulb, refuses to show us the perfect curves of her aloneness.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
The league maliciously refuses to act like a nice, friendly bank and give us overdraft privileges.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The Committee refuses to stand by, as big media corporations serve their own interests at the expense of industry workers and American consumers.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2026
Her ex-husband, a good father, refuses to move the boy to the town and Eden agonizes about taking the boy from his friends and school in the Twin Cities.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
His own top aides oppose the attack, and when the secretary of defense refuses to carry it out, he is immediately fired and replaced.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
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
Ryan Wilusz, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
But the porch light, with only one working bulb, refuses to show us the perfect curves of her aloneness.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
The league maliciously refuses to act like a nice, friendly bank and give us overdraft privileges.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
The Committee refuses to stand by, as big media corporations serve their own interests at the expense of industry workers and American consumers.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2026
Her ex-husband, a good father, refuses to move the boy to the town and Eden agonizes about taking the boy from his friends and school in the Twin Cities.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
His own top aides oppose the attack, and when the secretary of defense refuses to carry it out, he is immediately fired and replaced.
—Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
Trader Joe's denies the suit's allegations and any wrongdoing, but agreed to settle the case to avoid further litigation.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Hernandez denies the accusations.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Against a backdrop of tennis courts, luxury hotels, and colonial privilege, simmering tensions erupt as Lan’s brother Tran rejects his wealthy family’s collaboration with the French to join Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary cause, setting off an assassination that changes everything.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Miami summarily rejects anything resembling tanking because of a long-standing organizational philosophy that isn’t going to be revisited.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the number of living survivors declines, organizers say the responsibility to preserve these stories is shifting.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Roughly 5% of WLFI’s supply is now collateral on Dolomite, so if WLFI declines significantly in value, the collateral could be liquidated, Vaiman said.—
Jack Kubinec,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most critically, the report measures income and largely ignores wealth, debt, and geographic reality.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Any claim that the District has remained unresponsive or uncooperative is patently false and ignores months of direct consultation.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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