REFUSE Synonyms: 225 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'refuse' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of refuse are decline , reject , repudiate , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. // refused to lend them the money

Q: In what contexts can 'decline' take the place of 'refuse'?

In some situations, the words decline and refuse are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When is 'reject' a more appropriate choice than 'refuse'?

The synonyms reject and refuse are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When can 'repudiate' be used instead of 'refuse'?

The words repudiate and refuse can be used in similar contexts, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. // teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Q: When could 'spurn' be used to replace 'refuse'?

Although the words spurn and refuse have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

refuse 1 of 3

verb

ri-ˈfyüz

Definition of refuse

as in to deny

to be unwilling to grant the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reject

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to she refused the award, citing the hard work of others who deserved the recognition more than she did

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

refuse

2 of 3

noun

ˈre-ˌfyüs

as in garbage

discarded or useless material refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

refuse

3 of 3

adjective

as in discarded

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word refuse different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of refuse are decline, reject, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

In what contexts can decline take the place of refuse?

In some situations, the words decline and refuse are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When is reject a more appropriate choice than refuse?

The synonyms reject and refuse are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When can repudiate be used instead of refuse?

The words repudiate and refuse can be used in similar contexts, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

When could spurn be used to replace refuse?

Although the words spurn and refuse have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of refuse

Verb

That ending In the film, Bela refuses to let Other Mommy into her heart, per the demon’s constant request. — William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Jackie is one reason the earlier book refuses to become a simple brief for more voluntary family. — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Noun

Private refuse-hauling companies would also pay higher franchise fees. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Whether returning it or putting it with the refuse, do not serve it or eat it. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Adjective

Officials with the city’s Bureau of Sanitation said the existing trash fees have not been generating enough money to cover the true cost of refuse collection. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025 Cement mixers, roll-off and dump trucks, which all share a common architecture, will be built first, followed by refuse trucks and terminal tractors. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Dec. 2023 See All Example Sentences for refuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse

Verb

The former president denied the accusations and called the proceedings politically motivated.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Trump on Monday alluded to his own frustrations over the reports, which include allegations that Guilfoyle tried to solicit money from a donor to pay off her credit card ahead of her confirmation process (Guilfoyle has denied the story).

— Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of deny

Verb

Justice Brett Kavanaugh quickly rejected the appeal without seeing any need to refer it to his colleagues, and the matter appeared to be closed—for an hour or so, anyway.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
On the same day, Newsom also rejected a measure that would have stopped federal immigration enforcement officers from using their experience to obtain a state training waiver.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of reject

Noun

Prosecutors said Aurora was one of seven children, ages 2 months to 17 years, who lived in an east San José house on Lancelot Lane that was filled with cockroaches, pet feces, garbage and mold.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Clean your car full of garbage elsewhere and don’t hold up a line of customers.

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of garbage

Noun

Hours after the collapse in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, emergency services spokesperson Bilal Faizi said that everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been pulled out and crews had cleared debris.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
The hurricane had headed for the interior and Palm Beach was already clearing its debris.

— Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of debris

Adjective

Recycling and anti-waste advocates counter that regulators weakened the law with exemptions and carve-outs that could undermine its environmental goals.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
Shards of glass and ceramic, rusted metal, medical and bio-waste, syringes, cracked circuit boards, and broken electronics protruded everywhere.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026

Definition of waste

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“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of refuse

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noun

adjective

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