Synonyms of refusal

refusal

noun

ri-ˈfyü-zəl 

as in rejection

an unwillingness to grant something asked for

his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rejection
• denial
• nonacceptance
• no
• declination
• nay
• disallowance
• rebuff
• injunction
• veto
• turndown
• repudiation
• repulse
• suppression
• spurn
• ban
• repression
• discouragement
• deterrence
• negative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approval
• grant
• allowance
• consent
• agreement
• permission
• acceptance
• sanction
• license
• authorization
• assent
• leave
• clearance
• accession
• acquiescence
• concurrence
• OK
• signature
• seal
• stamp
• sufferance
• imprimatur

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refusal

But with the Asian Pop Performance category, BTS’s refusal to participate in the Grammy Awards is a sign of protest over the new category that risks building a divide. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

The no votes presented an early challenge for Chairman Kevin Warsh, whose refusal to provide clear road signs on where monetary policy is headed led to an unusually high level of uncertainty heading into the meeting. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 29 July 2026

Some shared their own workarounds for the AI’s refusals — which included just using another model, like Claude or Gemini. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 July 2026

Paul, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was enraged by the infectious disease expert’s refusal to engage with lawmakers. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 29 July 2026