as in rejections
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling
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Recent Examples of refusals
Medical staff were ordered to make sure all refusals of medical treatment were made directly to them and documented.
—
Christopher Damien, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
White said ride refusals are particularly an issue for members of the blind community who travel with service animals.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
When Washington comes asking for basing rights, expect polite refusals.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Mass refusals also led to the cancellation of multiple PEN America events.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has shown increasing frustration with Putin for failing to agree to at least a ceasefire and has imposed some sanctions over the Russian leader’s refusals.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2025
Roberts’s votes in recent years—such as his decision to deny review in cases involving service refusals—suggest a preference to limit rather than undo .
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Instead, Gazan leadership fell into refusals and delays without any coherent strategy.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Legal experts say a clear trend is forming due to the number of refusals to indict in such a short time.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Christopher Damien, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
White said ride refusals are particularly an issue for members of the blind community who travel with service animals.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
When Washington comes asking for basing rights, expect polite refusals.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Mass refusals also led to the cancellation of multiple PEN America events.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Trump has shown increasing frustration with Putin for failing to agree to at least a ceasefire and has imposed some sanctions over the Russian leader’s refusals.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2025
Roberts’s votes in recent years—such as his decision to deny review in cases involving service refusals—suggest a preference to limit rather than undo .
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Instead, Gazan leadership fell into refusals and delays without any coherent strategy.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Legal experts say a clear trend is forming due to the number of refusals to indict in such a short time.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusals
Noun
-
One by one, the rejections piled up — Whole Foods.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
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The board paid 50 building engineers and 123 cafeteria workers who volunteered to clean schools this month as a stopgap after the two contract rejections.—
Bri Hatch,
Chalkbeat,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Social Security Administration’s sudden reversal of its earlier denials about DOGE’s rampage through its most sensitive records rattled Social Security advocacy groups.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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While there are allegations that surveillance cameras operated by such retail partners as Flock Safety are being use to assist ICE raids as some activist investors charge, retailers should assert this electronic collaborating is not true—consistent with denials by Flock Safety.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refusals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusals. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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