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
What has changed is the political weight assigned to individual refusal – and that, more than the biology of the flu or the effectiveness of the vaccine, is what the end of this mandate reflects.
—
Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
That voice, her courage, the refusal to be anything less than completely herself.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Judge Panici, visibly frustrated with Talley’s refusals to answer his questions, ordered Talley held in custody until then.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Ghoststory is deceptively simple and the woman’s refusal to ever fully tell the ghost story may seem frustrating.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2026
That voice, her courage, the refusal to be anything less than completely herself.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Judge Panici, visibly frustrated with Talley’s refusals to answer his questions, ordered Talley held in custody until then.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Ghoststory is deceptively simple and the woman’s refusal to ever fully tell the ghost story may seem frustrating.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusal
Noun
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Speaking at an event held at the Aloft Hotel in Doral, a hub for Venezuelan diaspora activism, Guanipa painted a bleak picture of conditions inside Venezuela and sharply criticized the country’s current leadership, accusing those in power of clinging to control despite widespread rejection.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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Many researchers, clinicians and patient advocates soon rushed to RP1’s defense, claiming that the FDA had made a mistake in its rejection.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
2 May 2026
Noun
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Some admitted to feeling denial that their death would come.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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The denial pattern is documented, the appeal odds are better than most people realize, and a federal rule that took effect this year has shortened the timeline insurers can drag things out.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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