as in rejection
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling
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Recent Examples of refusal
Democrats, including Newsom, are blaming the shutdown on Republicans’ refusal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which fund in-state healthcare for low-income people.
—
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court’s refusal to take up the case marks a second high-profile legal defeat for Kobach this week.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Turner credits his success to his refusal to chase fleeting trends.
—Wyles Daniel, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
At the heart of the shutdown is an insistence by Democrats that the stopgap bill must include a provision to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, and a refusal by Republicans to include the credits in government funding negotiations.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court’s refusal to take up the case marks a second high-profile legal defeat for Kobach this week.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Turner credits his success to his refusal to chase fleeting trends.
—Wyles Daniel, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
At the heart of the shutdown is an insistence by Democrats that the stopgap bill must include a provision to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, and a refusal by Republicans to include the credits in government funding negotiations.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusal
Noun
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But those early rejections didn’t destroy their confidence.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
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This over-enthusiasm can backfire, leading to rejection.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The family did not challenge the denial in court.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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Back in September, the Chinese government enacted a law that allows for the imposition of retaliatory fees or port access denials for vessels from countries that take discriminatory actions against Chinese vessels or carriers.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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