1
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
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
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of refuse
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
Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Absent from the agenda are nominees from blue states, where Democrats have refused to return blue slips.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025
Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Amid the refuse were 165 thrush bones alongside other common food remains like sea shells as well as fish and pig bones.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
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
Noun
However, the judge refused to suspend the current ban ahead of the hearing.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Absent from the agenda are nominees from blue states, where Democrats have refused to return blue slips.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Garbage/refuse containers not covered as required. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED AND CLEAN: Employee clothing/possessions not stored properly.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Amid the refuse were 165 thrush bones alongside other common food remains like sea shells as well as fish and pig bones.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
All three Cabinet members denied wrongdoing.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Judge Gary Arnold denied the motion Thursday morning.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Several world leaders have already rejected the plan and insisted that the only solution is the creation of a Palestinian state once Hamas hands over the hostages and a new Palestinian government takes over.—
Michele Chabin,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Shi seemed confident that Strand Larsen, who was keen to join Newcastle United before the deadline, will knuckle down despite Wolves rejecting two bids.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One reader emailed us to emphatically declare Andrew the worst, citing its homeless population, garbage and bird poop.—
Isabelle Friedman,
Boston Herald,
31 Aug. 2025
-
So San Diegans are helping with the $1 million-per-day cost of garbage removal there, too.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
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
-
Burberry's share price has fallen sharply over recent years, declining almost 80% from April 2023 to September 2024, as waning sales and a slew of management changes exacerbated a wider luxury downturn.—
Karen Gilchrist,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Morris and his attorneys declined comment.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, sometimes the heat is impossible to ignore — evident in the small sweat stains on Dinkel’s blue collared shirt.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Carrie Severino, president of the conservative advocacy group Judicial Crisis Network, previously told the Washington Examiner that the justices have made recent orders more explicit and clear as lower court judges have ignored the Supreme Court’s previous orders on its emergency docket.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Vipsun Cordless Vacuum Run the vacuum over hard floors and carpets to suck up dirt, pet hair, dust, crumbs and other debris.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Second, wind can blow dust, leaves, sticks, and other debris onto your wet stain, leaving a mess that is nearly impossible to clean up.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
By contrast, Jeffrey goes out of his way to help the employees, breaking into Mitch’s computer to change their timesheets and stealing a trash bag full of goodies to donate to the toy drive at Leigh’s church.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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The polyolefins Marks is referring to are what trash bags, plastic wrap, squeeze bottles, and other disposable single-use packaging are made of.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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