1
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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
as in discarded
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refuse
Chris Willman, Variety, 2 June 2026
Marlon has said as recently as in a May 25 interview with Variety that the Weinstein brothers refused the Wayans' demands for raises to make a third Scary Movie and subsequently stole their idea for Scary Movie 3.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Cebu City generates about just over a million pounds garbage per day, The New York Times reported, adding that its officials have been in talks with nearby cities and provinces to dispose of the refuse.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
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
Verb
Flo Rida just refused to say anything about it.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 June 2026
Marlon has said as recently as in a May 25 interview with Variety that the Weinstein brothers refused the Wayans' demands for raises to make a third Scary Movie and subsequently stole their idea for Scary Movie 3.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Noun
Images released by police showed a house filled with refuse and multiple dogs, including what appeared to be a mother dog and several puppies.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Cebu City generates about just over a million pounds garbage per day, The New York Times reported, adding that its officials have been in talks with nearby cities and provinces to dispose of the refuse.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 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
-
Rivas led a recent charge to deny the renewal of Gabriella Charter School, which uses a substantial portion of the Echo Park campus where the district operates Logan Academy for Global Ecology.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
On Friday, Musk also denied a Bloomberg report that SpaceX valuation was lowered on Friday, reaffirming that the rocket and satellite company will have a blockbuster IPO and comfortably dominate against other historic IPO deals.—
Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The court also rejected the New Orleans City Council’s attempt to hold a special election, which would have given Duncan the option to run again.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
-
On Tuesday, however, the federation learned that the CAS panel had largely rejected its arguments but has annulled the first sanction’s partial-stadium closure.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The Paris police prefecture said smaller groups caused disturbances in various locations, with some vandalizing shops and setting fires to garbage and self-service bicycles in the streets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
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Protesters were later seen pelting ICE vehicles with kitchen towels and trash as garbage littered the ground.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
In another development, researchers in the US developed a new method that could turn discarded data center hardware into a reliable, eco-friendly source of rare earths and valuable metals.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Mahuna declined to say what evidence led investigators to identify Baker as a suspect.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
-
Officials cited budget deficits, underutilized buildings, and declining enrollment as reasons for the closures.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
That’s how Ciara found out that Amanda was spending so much time at West’s house while ignoring her calls.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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Chow's son testified that the gun was pointed at him, and defense lawyer Shaun Kent said during his closing argument that Cyrus ignored Chow telling him to put it down.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Firefighters then evacuated residents from a nearby apartment complex, and others combed through debris of the two-story building, searching for people who may have been trapped.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
Three bodies were found in the debris of the complex.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
All those unappetizing items go in your brown yard waste cart, not the black trash cart or the blue recycle cart.—
Terri Daxon,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
-
Do not place the plant in the trash or a compost bin.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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