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

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