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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refused
Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Grohl refused to answer additional questions about his cheating, instead suggesting that the Foo Fighters’ upcoming album contains songs and lyrics that allude to it.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
In initial testing, the researchers found that half of the participants refused to use an LLM at all or only used it to find information rather than generate new content.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
But Democrats have dismissed the offer, saying the White House has refused to budge on masks and warrants.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Case filings list several instances in which clergy went to Whipple to minister to detainees but were refused access, including on Ash Wednesday, a solemn day in many Christian traditions in which clergy place ashes on worshippers' foreheads in the sign of the cross.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
There was a concerted effort to demonize anyone who refused to panic and continue with their daily lives and maintain a semblance of normalcy.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Mullin refused to back down to Paul.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
The tour was delayed for over a year, during which PCD creator Robin Antin sued Scherzinger, claiming the singer refused to participate unless she was given full creative control.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Yet Hezbollah refused to succumb to the growing domestic pressure calling it to give up its arms.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Grohl refused to answer additional questions about his cheating, instead suggesting that the Foo Fighters’ upcoming album contains songs and lyrics that allude to it.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
In initial testing, the researchers found that half of the participants refused to use an LLM at all or only used it to find information rather than generate new content.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
But Democrats have dismissed the offer, saying the White House has refused to budge on masks and warrants.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Case filings list several instances in which clergy went to Whipple to minister to detainees but were refused access, including on Ash Wednesday, a solemn day in many Christian traditions in which clergy place ashes on worshippers' foreheads in the sign of the cross.
—ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026
There was a concerted effort to demonize anyone who refused to panic and continue with their daily lives and maintain a semblance of normalcy.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Mullin refused to back down to Paul.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
The tour was delayed for over a year, during which PCD creator Robin Antin sued Scherzinger, claiming the singer refused to participate unless she was given full creative control.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
-
The army has denied targeting the medical facility, which is in an area controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
After asking him to model courage, and to be the container of everyone’s hope—and after so many of Rozos’s peers loudly cheered him on—NYU denied Rozos their diploma.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But courts have also rejected O’Connell’s claims of misconduct in other high-profile cases.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The proposal had been rejected by members of a separate federal coin committee — and panned by former member Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Pentagon declined to comment on the strike on Natanz, which was also hit in the first week of the war and in the 12-day war last June.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Miami also declined to offer Jovic, though there’s no indication that his inclusion would have satisfied Phoenix.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, transgender rights advocates say the voices and the views of students have been ignored.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Sterlin Harjo has expanded the possibilities of television with work that is both deeply personal and culturally groundbreaking, with overdue stories and voices Americans have long ignored.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
-
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 27 Mar. 2026.
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