as in rejection
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refusal
Eventually, censored animations of Muhammad aired with disclaimers from Comedy Central, but only after Parker and Stone’s refusal to address the issue before broadcast.
—
Nick Marx, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Much of the conspiracy theorizing over Balaji’s death has to do with the refusal of his parents to accept the official findings and insistence that he was murdered.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
One of the Democrats’ biggest problems right now is their refusal to take accountability for their poor performance.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
In the New York Times, Benjamin Oreskes wrote about Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s refusal to endorse Mamdani.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Nick Marx, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Much of the conspiracy theorizing over Balaji’s death has to do with the refusal of his parents to accept the official findings and insistence that he was murdered.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
One of the Democrats’ biggest problems right now is their refusal to take accountability for their poor performance.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
In the New York Times, Benjamin Oreskes wrote about Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s refusal to endorse Mamdani.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusal
Noun
-
After multiple rejections from the auto dealership, Kim had to get creative again.—
Ernestine Siu,
CNBC,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The sting of rejection or criticism is universal.—
Susanne Biro,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While non-State armed groups are said to be responsible for almost 50% of grave violations, government forces were the main perpetrators of the killing and maiming of children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Protecting your own mental state is not avoidance or denial.—
Annie Margaret,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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