1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rejects
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refuses
The place is decaying and strict, but Luna refuses to give in to its rules.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
But Chiles refuses to let anyone’s score define her.
—Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
But naturally, Meredith can see right through this plan and refuses to get dragged into this mess — especially when Lisa is already starting to break down at the thought of Meredith not defending her.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Compact Powerhouse for On-the-Go Living The VTOMAN Jump 1800 is built for anyone who refuses to be limited by access to a wall socket.
—New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2025
While Skenes' early years are apparently being wasted in a Pittsburgh organization that refuses to spend money to create a playoff-contending roster around him, the Pirates could build from within to create a strong team a few years down the road by stockpiling top prospects, Rymer argued.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But Kwei, in the first display of mercy or kindness that Dek has ever seen, refuses to slay his own brother.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025
Many Democrats have adopted a more brash and confrontational style of politics, which refuses to keep anything quiet.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Paul Thomas Anderson fits a generation’s worth of cineplex joys into One Battle After Another, but the revolution refuses to get off the couch.
—Jonathan Lethem, The New York Review of Books, 30 Oct. 2025
John Hopewell, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
But Chiles refuses to let anyone’s score define her.
—Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
But naturally, Meredith can see right through this plan and refuses to get dragged into this mess — especially when Lisa is already starting to break down at the thought of Meredith not defending her.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Compact Powerhouse for On-the-Go Living The VTOMAN Jump 1800 is built for anyone who refuses to be limited by access to a wall socket.
—New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2025
While Skenes' early years are apparently being wasted in a Pittsburgh organization that refuses to spend money to create a playoff-contending roster around him, the Pirates could build from within to create a strong team a few years down the road by stockpiling top prospects, Rymer argued.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
But Kwei, in the first display of mercy or kindness that Dek has ever seen, refuses to slay his own brother.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2025
Many Democrats have adopted a more brash and confrontational style of politics, which refuses to keep anything quiet.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 31 Oct. 2025
Paul Thomas Anderson fits a generation’s worth of cineplex joys into One Battle After Another, but the revolution refuses to get off the couch.
—Jonathan Lethem, The New York Review of Books, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
Naturally, Meredith completely denies this and says that Britani is only bringing this up because her own relationship is such a disaster.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The government denies holding political prisoners.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Employees have even suggested that Hialeah might be better served by joining county-run departments, an idea Calvo firmly rejects.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
After years representing luxury giants in fashion and beauty ranging from Audemars Piguet to Sephora, content creator Nour Arida is launching her own vision, one that rejects perfection in favor of presence.—
Ritu Upadhyay,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To confront vaquita declines, in 2019 the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species established an agreement to help eliminate supply and demand for totoabas and help remove gill nets from the upper Gulf of California.—
Ryan Green,
Scientific American,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Then if a player who declines a qualifying offer signs elsewhere, their new team must forfeit at least one draft pick and their previous team is granted one as compensation.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Even his handling of deportations—another key part of his election platform—has a 52 percent disapproval rating, as Americans grapple with an ICE force that eschews state regulations, ignores due process rights and acts like the president’s personal army.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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Any definition that ignores the role of processing is missing the big picture, says Mozaffarian of Tufts University.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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