1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Here, Colman Domingo’s renegade intelligence operative also refuses to tell anyone anything, but all the unspoken beats just feel like plot holes.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
And law enforcement refuses to investigate it.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Still, Peter refuses to believe.
—Cynthia Pelayo, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Killing Dawn would solve the problem, but Buffy understandably refuses to do so.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
The Broward sheriff refuses to honor a legally binding contract.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The film exists because the dead deserve to be witnessed and because the families inside Iran, who cannot speak, deserve someone outside who refuses to forget.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 2 June 2026
Walt asks Jesse to kill him, but Jesse refuses and tells him to do it himself.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
However, there are now reports that William is seriously concerned about his father’s health, amid reports that Charles refuses to step down to take care of himself.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 1 June 2026
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
And law enforcement refuses to investigate it.
—Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2026
Still, Peter refuses to believe.
—Cynthia Pelayo, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Killing Dawn would solve the problem, but Buffy understandably refuses to do so.
—ArsTechnica, 7 June 2026
The Broward sheriff refuses to honor a legally binding contract.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The film exists because the dead deserve to be witnessed and because the families inside Iran, who cannot speak, deserve someone outside who refuses to forget.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 2 June 2026
Walt asks Jesse to kill him, but Jesse refuses and tells him to do it himself.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
However, there are now reports that William is seriously concerned about his father’s health, amid reports that Charles refuses to step down to take care of himself.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
Bruel denies all the allegations made against him.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2026
-
At the end of each year, TEA approves or denies all teachers recommended to them by a school district.—
Samuel O’Neal
June 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 June 2026
-
There’s already wide agreement within the denomination that its faith statement rejects the appointment of women as senior pastors who lead churches.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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That’s down to the 3D model producing a little less warming for a brighter Sun, the expectation that CO2 declines more slowly over time, and a slight expansion of the CO2 range believed to be survivable by plants.—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
-
Scientists found that a protein called NOX4 naturally declines with age and inactivity.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Six Sex never ignores the horrors, but uses them as fuel for a debut that unfurls as a freewheeling post-porno blitz.—
E.R. Pulgar,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
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But dismissing the current structure as inadequate or politically driven ignores decades of success and the collaborative model that has restored and sustained wildlife populations nationwide.—
Mike Elfenbein,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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