as in rejected
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in denied
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in declined
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refused
Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Democrats have refused to approve DHS's budget unless GOP lawmakers and the White House agree on changes to how immigration officers operate after the fatal shooting of two American citizens in Minneapolis.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
In 2022, however, SeaWorld allegedly refused to pay Sesame Workshop millions of dollars in royalties for the Sesame Place park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, forcing Sesame Workshop to arbitrate the claim, according to the lawsuit.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The tour was delayed for over a year, during which PCD creator Robin Antin sued Scherzinger, claiming the singer refused to participate unless she was given full creative control.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
The streamer refused to comment or confirm exact numbers, but the understanding is that the cuts were made to the creative studio unit, a team of designers and producers who create marketing such as posters, in-app trailers and content for live-experiences across content, product and marketing.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
But when asked about the letter this month, the signatories contacted refused to comment.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
You will be treated like someone who is against the regime and someone who has refused to work with us.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The judge reminded the court that Cox filed the motion in January 2026 and refused to delay the hearing.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
The man refused a security officer’s instructions to leave the front of the stage, so after a brief back-and-forth, he was physically removed to a chorus of audience boos.
—Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026
Democrats have refused to approve DHS's budget unless GOP lawmakers and the White House agree on changes to how immigration officers operate after the fatal shooting of two American citizens in Minneapolis.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 13 Mar. 2026
In 2022, however, SeaWorld allegedly refused to pay Sesame Workshop millions of dollars in royalties for the Sesame Place park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, forcing Sesame Workshop to arbitrate the claim, according to the lawsuit.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
The tour was delayed for over a year, during which PCD creator Robin Antin sued Scherzinger, claiming the singer refused to participate unless she was given full creative control.
—Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
The streamer refused to comment or confirm exact numbers, but the understanding is that the cuts were made to the creative studio unit, a team of designers and producers who create marketing such as posters, in-app trailers and content for live-experiences across content, product and marketing.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
But when asked about the letter this month, the signatories contacted refused to comment.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
You will be treated like someone who is against the regime and someone who has refused to work with us.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
The judge reminded the court that Cox filed the motion in January 2026 and refused to delay the hearing.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
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Earlier this week, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Ricks' request to commute his death sentence or grant a 90-day reprieve.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The board denied renewal of Green Dot Locke High charter by a 4-3 vote, citing lower performance compared to traditional schools.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In 2019, a bill requiring the Department of Public Health and the University of Connecticut to study female genital mutilation in the state was rejected by the Senate.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2026
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But Patrick rejected the idea that funding battles would doom the effort.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Township officials also offered assistance during a public meeting to help address those concerns, but the university declined the help, the lawsuit alleges.—
Frederick Sutton Sinclair,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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The Army Corps declined to comment for this article, citing the ongoing lawsuit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Whether out of arrogance, capriciousness, or collective amnesia, this recent history was ignored.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Many speakers ignored instructions to address the board and instead addressed other speakers in the crowd.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Leaving Polis off the guest list of a recent governors’ dinner at the White House was the latest slap in the face of many that include rescinded federal grants, a vetoed water bill, rejected disaster fund requests, and the loss of two federal agencies.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
6 Mar. 2026
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Transparency instead of testing Where the vetoed SB 1047 would have mandated safety testing and kill switches for AI systems, the new law focuses on disclosure.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
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That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refused. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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