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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refused
Tim Lister, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
The union claims the district has refused to engage on critical issues impacting students, including class-size reductions, special education caseloads and educator health care.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Especially the citizens taking part in a triathlon that the mayor has refused to cancel.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Officers said agitators were blocking the school's entrance and refused to leave.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
While police were on scene, a woman who was at that location began resisting the officers and refused to follow their orders.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The man refused to comply with instructions, and police began a negotiation process.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
That dispute closed the government for 43 days as Republicans refused to negotiate.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
The Department of Justice refused to open such an investigation into the killing of Renee Good.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Ukraine has refused to cede the territory.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
The union claims the district has refused to engage on critical issues impacting students, including class-size reductions, special education caseloads and educator health care.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Especially the citizens taking part in a triathlon that the mayor has refused to cancel.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Officers said agitators were blocking the school's entrance and refused to leave.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
While police were on scene, a woman who was at that location began resisting the officers and refused to follow their orders.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
The man refused to comply with instructions, and police began a negotiation process.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
That dispute closed the government for 43 days as Republicans refused to negotiate.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
The Department of Justice refused to open such an investigation into the killing of Renee Good.
—Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
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Nanos claimed Cross campaigned against him while wearing his Pima County Sheriff's uniform in breach of department rules, which Cross denied.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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His attorney says an emergency stay of removal was denied, but an appeal is pending.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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More than 300 district judges in Minnesota and elsewhere have so far rejected the government’s mandatory detention policies, ordering detainees released or granted bond hearings.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
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That happened recently in Kansas City – where voters rejected a new stadium – and Philadelphia, where the team reversed its decision to build the arena near the city’s Chinatown.—
Gidon Jakar,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Police and city leaders declined to comment on her claims when approached by CNN.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The driver and the bicyclist, who was struck, declined to be taken to the hospital.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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So, the fact that the Illinois fireworks ban is roundly ignored by Illinoisans is not a surprise to anyone, as the night skies prove on Independence Day.—
Brad Weisenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Ackerly says the lesson is simple but often ignored.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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One clip appears to show a Waymo vehicle stopped while other vehicles illegally pass a stopped bus.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
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That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refused. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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