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

Foreign courts may decide divorce and custody but generally do not have jurisdiction to divide those benefits as a US court can, leaving spouses little recourse if the service member refuses to share them voluntarily. — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Many veteran leaders express frustration, claiming that Generation Z lacks loyalty, demands too much flexibility or refuses to put in the grueling hours that previous generations accepted as the standard. — Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Lakshmana, however, recognizes the deception and initially refuses to leave, confident in Rama’s ability to defeat any enemy. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

And sometimes, the best beauty statement is the one that refuses to draw a hard line. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Morgan refuses Ancker’s offer outright and stops just short of spitting in the man’s face. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

The court can then help facilitate a religious divorce, including addressing situations in which a husband refuses to grant his wife a religious divorce. — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026

Why this 78-year-old professor refuses to move Marvin's frustration goes beyond having robots share the sidewalk. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

If the person still refuses to move, resist the urge to keep arguing. — Angela Haupt, Time, 21 Oct. 2026