variants
also refusnik
as in refuser
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Recent Examples of refusenik
Instead, Elam became a refusenik, as conscientious objectors are called in Israel, over his disapproval of the Israel-Hamas war.
—
Jade Walker, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
After getting a secret greenlight in March 1990, Mr. Reichmann was aboard his private plane to Lithuania to pick up refusenik Raiz and his son.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2023
When the Soviet Union lifted its ban on the Jewish refusenik emigration in 1971, my family saw their opportunity to start over in America.
—Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022
Vaccine mandates by large companies and government agencies, many of them imposed at President Biden’s behest, seem to be working—without vaccine-refusenik workers quitting en masse, as threatened.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2021
Can the host forbid entry or try to make a refusenik toe the line?
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2021
If the refusal to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge was sure to earn the Republican refusenik a potent primary challenge from the right, a denying Trump’s election lies as a gospel truth will likely lead to the same punishment.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 July 2021
Natan Sharansky has been a computer scientist, a chess player, a refusenik, a dissident, a political prisoner, a party leader, a government minister, a nonprofit executive, and a bestselling author.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 28 Nov. 2020
Nor does everyone feel oppressed by celebrity; all that star-maker machinery has to get stoked with something, and for every Dylanesque refusenik in the world there are ten thousand volunteers for fame.
—Jonathan Dee, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
Jade Walker, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
After getting a secret greenlight in March 1990, Mr. Reichmann was aboard his private plane to Lithuania to pick up refusenik Raiz and his son.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2023
When the Soviet Union lifted its ban on the Jewish refusenik emigration in 1971, my family saw their opportunity to start over in America.
—Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022
Vaccine mandates by large companies and government agencies, many of them imposed at President Biden’s behest, seem to be working—without vaccine-refusenik workers quitting en masse, as threatened.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2021
Can the host forbid entry or try to make a refusenik toe the line?
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2021
If the refusal to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge was sure to earn the Republican refusenik a potent primary challenge from the right, a denying Trump’s election lies as a gospel truth will likely lead to the same punishment.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 July 2021
Natan Sharansky has been a computer scientist, a chess player, a refusenik, a dissident, a political prisoner, a party leader, a government minister, a nonprofit executive, and a bestselling author.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 28 Nov. 2020
Nor does everyone feel oppressed by celebrity; all that star-maker machinery has to get stoked with something, and for every Dylanesque refusenik in the world there are ten thousand volunteers for fame.
—Jonathan Dee, The New Yorker, 29 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusenik
Noun
-
Public discontent with White — a former Kansas City Royals player and Democrat serving as the county executive since 2016 — stemmed mainly from frustration over increases in Jackson County property tax evaluations in recent years, organizers have said.—
Madeline King,
Kansas City Star,
18 July 2025
-
Congressional Republicans, who had experienced an unwelcome taste of popular discontent at their own formerly placid town halls, were now under orders from party headquarters to avoid such encounters.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
Israel has stepped up strikes against Syria despite pressure from the US, which has made moves to end the country’s international isolation following the rebel takeover.—
Eyad Kourdi,
CNN Money,
17 July 2025
-
The Times of Israel reported that both ships were attacked over a week ago by the rebels as part of their campaign targeting vessels over the war in Gaza.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refusenik.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusenik. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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