as in rejected
Related Words
Relevance
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
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 refused
Jason Henry, Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused, prompting a police chase.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither Evelyn nor Arthur was a member of the Communist Party and Arthur was eventually cleared but lost his job when the family, out of principle, refused to cancel their subscriptions to the left-leaning publications.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Some buildings, including one in midtown, are asking residents to keep recycling inside their apartments, which some users on an Upper East Side Reddit forum flatly refused to do.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 17 Apr. 2026
George Washington refused to kneel or take communion in the Anglican Church and appeared to hold religious beliefs blending Deism and Unitarianism.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
But the Lucky Dawg team refused to leave them behind.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
That year’s Republican National Convention filled its programming with second-raters (Scott Baio gave a prime-time speech), while Ted Cruz and other speakers refused to endorse Trump onstage; National Review famously published a special issue denouncing him.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
In the wake of Paul and Mortensen's ongoing legal battle, multiple sources also confirmed to PEOPLE in March that production had paused for the fifth season of Mormon Wives after Paul's fellow cast members refused to film with her.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
The county, however, refused to comply with the order to close in that case and has continued operating Los Padrinos in defiance.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused, prompting a police chase.
—Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither Evelyn nor Arthur was a member of the Communist Party and Arthur was eventually cleared but lost his job when the family, out of principle, refused to cancel their subscriptions to the left-leaning publications.
—Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 17 Apr. 2026
Some buildings, including one in midtown, are asking residents to keep recycling inside their apartments, which some users on an Upper East Side Reddit forum flatly refused to do.
—Anne Kadet, Curbed, 17 Apr. 2026
George Washington refused to kneel or take communion in the Anglican Church and appeared to hold religious beliefs blending Deism and Unitarianism.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026
But the Lucky Dawg team refused to leave them behind.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
That year’s Republican National Convention filled its programming with second-raters (Scott Baio gave a prime-time speech), while Ted Cruz and other speakers refused to endorse Trump onstage; National Review famously published a special issue denouncing him.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
In the wake of Paul and Mortensen's ongoing legal battle, multiple sources also confirmed to PEOPLE in March that production had paused for the fifth season of Mormon Wives after Paul's fellow cast members refused to film with her.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
-
The same City who denied Arsenal title glory in 2023 and 2024.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Jordan was then interviewed by a private investigator hired by Jackson’s attorneys, and denied being molested by the singer.—
Amelia McDonell-Parry,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors said Maya’s ballot was counted in the recall election, but rejected the following year.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The shareholders, however, rejected WBD CEO David Zaslav‘s lucrative compensation package, sending a message to its board in the process.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In an email, Gardner declined to comment on the specifics of the situation.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The prosecutor declined to comment further to AP pending further investigation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Students argue that their desires were ignored when the board moved the upcoming Laguna Beach High graduation ceremony back to the smaller Irvine Bowl after several years of being held in the campus stadium.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The repricing reflects a structural vulnerability that can no longer be ignored.—
Tenzin Seldon,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
