Synonyms of refuses

refuses

verb

present tense third-person singular of refuse

1

as in denies

to be unwilling to grant

the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews

Synonyms & Similar Words

• denies
• rejects
• declines
• withholds
• disapproves
• disallows
• forbids
• nixes
• prohibits
• keeps
• spurns
• restricts
• enjoins
• vetoes
• negatives
• proscribes
• bans
• restrains
• holds
• repels
• reprobates
• rebuffs
• checks
• represses
• constrains
• hinders
• obstructs
• impedes
• curbs
• balks (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lets
• permits
• allows
• concedes
• provides
• gives
• grants
• affords
• furnishes
• authorizes
• supplies
• acquiesces
• licenses
• agrees (to)
• OKs
• consents (to)
• warrants
• commissions
• assents (to)
• accedes (to)
• accords
• sanctions
• vouchsafes

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

• rejects
• declines
• ignores
• denies
• passes
• forbids
• spurns
• dismisses
• withdraws
• disapproves
• avoids
• repudiates
• vetoes
• nixes
• disputes
• balks (at)
• deselects
• passes up
• turns down
• throws over
• disdains
• scorns
• throws out
• prohibits
• rebuffs
• overrules
• renounces
• reprobates
• retracts
• negatives
• proscribes
• revokes
• disavows
• turns one's back on
• recants
• contradicts
• recalls
• refutes
• abjures
• disclaims
• forswears
• blows off
• disowns
• scouts
• refrains (from)
• sticks
• bypasses
• disproves
• disallows
• reneges
• backtracks
• shoots down
• controverts
• gainsays
• abstains (from)
• negates
• rebuts
• forbears
• disagrees (with)
• takes back
• unsays
• detours
• backs off
• backs down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepts
• approves
• agrees (to)
• receives
• takes
• tolerates
• agrees
• adopts
• embraces
• welcomes
• swallows
• condones
• chooses
• consents
• acquiesces
• selects
• assents
• supports
• countenances
• accedes
• espouses
• handpicks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of refuses

In the series, Kevin's owners divorce, and Kevin refuses to take a side, leading him to a pet rescue with odd and hilarious side quests. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

That could come in handy with kids, pets or anything else that refuses to pose for you. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Wakefield refuses to take any credit, but Campbell will tell you that his high school coach helped repurpose, if not soften, his edges. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

If Carro refuses to delay, Mangione's lawyers could appeal to New York's mid-level court -- the Appellate Division's First Department -- or even higher, to the New York Court of Appeals. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Despite his kids making efforts to publicly distance themselves from him, Brad Pitt refuses to give up on them. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2026

The public restrooms are controlled by a ruthless corporation, and anyone who refuses to pay is sent to the mysterious Urinetown. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Despite an impressive guest book that includes Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Aga Khan III, Rita Hayworth, and Ringo Starr, Hôtel Royal refuses to rest on its laurels. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Mungiu refuses to supply easy answers or simple paths to identification in this compelling provocation, which poses unresolvable questions to viewers about our biases and presumptions. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026