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
In a world of cynicism, Logano refuses to fall in line.
—
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Hold on to the laughter, hold on to the sparkle, hold on to that spark deep inside that refuses to go out.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
My body refuses to adjust to this new reality.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The Ministry then refuses to register the union because the list of founding members is no longer up-to-date, or for a host of other inconsequential errors.
—Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
Since then, whenever there is an event that Emma knows Charlotte will be at, my daughter refuses to go.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Along with being someone who refuses to be pigeonholded.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
Though Frankenstein first refuses his creation.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The Tecca website’s phone number only gets him to National Business Solutions, which refuses to transfer him to the manufacturer.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Hold on to the laughter, hold on to the sparkle, hold on to that spark deep inside that refuses to go out.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
My body refuses to adjust to this new reality.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The Ministry then refuses to register the union because the list of founding members is no longer up-to-date, or for a host of other inconsequential errors.
—Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025
Since then, whenever there is an event that Emma knows Charlotte will be at, my daughter refuses to go.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Along with being someone who refuses to be pigeonholded.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
Though Frankenstein first refuses his creation.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
The Tecca website’s phone number only gets him to National Business Solutions, which refuses to transfer him to the manufacturer.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
Pakistan’s military denies the charges and points to attacks in Pakistan by ISIS-K, or Islamic State Khorasan, the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group active in the neighbors.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The teen's lawyer Aaron Washington-Childs denies the charges.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The business software maker on Wednesday unveiled an optimistic, multiyear financial roadmap that rejects the sluggish-growth narrative that has been dogging the stock.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The White House rejects the suggestion that any of the president's social media posts have been racist.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Overall, the most prevalent cause of bird population declines is habitat loss and degradation, driven especially by agricultural expansion and intensification and logging, the IUCN said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Prices up 2% but concessions show declines, especially condos (-11%).—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And anybody who ignores these issues does so at their peril.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Oct. 2025
-
This willfully blinkered vision, or, more precisely, reëlection platform, ignores the cost in global opinion along with the moral and political fractures within Israel itself.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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