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
Ayren Jackson-Cannady, SELF, 29 May 2026
Allen refused to unload the bike, which weighed roughly 300 pounds, according to court records.
—Rose Evans
updated May 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026
On Friday, Magyar formally submitted Hungary’s request to sign on to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the EU’s corruption watchdog based in Luxembourg that Orbán’s government had long refused to join.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Defense attorneys Scott Simmons and Dan Wagner argued that prosecutors refused a request from the grand jury to investigate some evidence.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
The proposal came a day after a DC judge refused to block the policy, which congressional Democrats and some state attorneys general opposed.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 May 2026
KeShaun Pearson, brother of state Representative Justin Pearson, refused to leave and was arrested.
—Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
Quintero refused sobriety testing at the scene.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
After she was treated, a social worker wanted to talk with Jasmine alone, without her mother present, but Archer refused.
—Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 28 May 2026
Verb
The stories below belong to 13 Black women who refused to be reduced to a statistic.
—Ayren Jackson-Cannady, SELF, 29 May 2026
Allen refused to unload the bike, which weighed roughly 300 pounds, according to court records.
—Rose Evans
updated May 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 May 2026
On Friday, Magyar formally submitted Hungary’s request to sign on to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the EU’s corruption watchdog based in Luxembourg that Orbán’s government had long refused to join.
—Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Defense attorneys Scott Simmons and Dan Wagner argued that prosecutors refused a request from the grand jury to investigate some evidence.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
The proposal came a day after a DC judge refused to block the policy, which congressional Democrats and some state attorneys general opposed.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 May 2026
KeShaun Pearson, brother of state Representative Justin Pearson, refused to leave and was arrested.
—Bruce Sibley, Time, 29 May 2026
Quintero refused sobriety testing at the scene.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
After she was treated, a social worker wanted to talk with Jasmine alone, without her mother present, but Archer refused.
—Larissa MacFarquhar, New Yorker, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refused
Verb
-
Wharton was not to be denied his match-winning contribution.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Her client has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his wife’s disappearance.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
New Hampshire, which rejected the DNC’s plan, held a leadoff primary ahead of South Carolina anyway, and Biden — who didn’t campaign or have his name on the ballot — still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Voters rejected a state ballot proposal in 1998 to legalize the prescription of lethal medication to help terminally ill, competent, informed adults commit suicide in Michigan, with 71% voting against the initiative.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Enrollment declined the past two years at DU after years of growth, Rinehart said.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
When asked about her challenging Qualls in a primary, her campaign declined to comment Saturday.—
Jimmy Lovrien,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Although the military initially ignored it, the principle later became foundational to spread-spectrum wireless communication technologies used in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and modern secure communications.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
Then, the cries of Ginny’s baby are a major wake-up call for the couple that can’t be ignored.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The vetoed bills aimed to create a regulated retail market, new oversight bodies, public health and equity programs, and a rollout schedule for licensing, regulations, and enforcement.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
-
The vetoed money is just part of the more than $300 million in state spending Kemp blocked to help pay for a significant income tax cut lawmakers passed on the final day of the legislative session.—
David Wickert,
AJC.com,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The truck crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed into the stopped Kia, striking the three pedestrians, CHP said.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refused. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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