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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refuses
Although many philosophers and theologians accept mortality as an inevitable and indeed defining feature of human existence, Kurzweil refuses to accept this line of thinking.
—
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025
Dusk refuses, choosing ruin instead.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Twenty-four-year-old Iman Irhim fled with her 4-year-old daughter and husband from Zeitoun towards the coast, west of Gaza City, but refuses to move south.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Mike Krueger, who owns both places, refuses to declare a winner.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Dog refuses to look at puppy in the TikTok video.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Despite multiple calls and emails, StubHub refuses to refund me, citing a policy that requires same-day calls.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Hartman plays bass for Barbara, an all-woman music trio that refuses to be defined by a single genre.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025
Dusk refuses, choosing ruin instead.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Twenty-four-year-old Iman Irhim fled with her 4-year-old daughter and husband from Zeitoun towards the coast, west of Gaza City, but refuses to move south.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Mike Krueger, who owns both places, refuses to declare a winner.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Dog refuses to look at puppy in the TikTok video.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Despite multiple calls and emails, StubHub refuses to refund me, citing a policy that requires same-day calls.
—Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Hartman plays bass for Barbara, an all-woman music trio that refuses to be defined by a single genre.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
As a guy who is simply not built for summer (sweaty, burns easily, refuses to wear shorts), the turning of the calendar to September adds a little lead to my tread, with visions of cider and sweaters dancing in my head.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
Trump denies any involvement in the note.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Cook, who denies any wrongdoing, is he first Black female Fed governor.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But March’s family, which has seen their factory turned upside down by the ghost of a former employee, rejects the relationship.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
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The seeds of bombs planted by soldiers long gone remain dormant but alive just beneath the surface and yet the land rejects them every day.—
Michael Jerome Plunkett
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
If the Supreme Court declines review, Hernandez would face retrial unless prosecutors decide not to pursue the case further.—
Adeola Adeosun
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The Times’ proprietor, Patrick Soon-Shiong, now declines to support political candidates, a decision that conflicts with his community’s liberal constituency.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For most companies and CEOs, the metrics would be preposterously out of reach — among them are an eight-fold increase in market valuation and a 30-fold increase in earnings — but that ignores Musk’s ability to marshal investor enthusiasm and pull off new product launches.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
But this framing ignores reality.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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