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
Advertisement Mun-ju refuses to leave him.
—
Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Or, maybe someone who currently lives with you refuses to take ownership of perpetuating the mess downstairs.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
But, fueled by her own sense of urgency to survive, Lenox refuses to stop resuscitating.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
Aaron Rodgers refuses to throw downfield.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Yet Hearon refuses to let this reality define his path.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
If a traveler refuses to provide biometric data, that person will be denied entry.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
From start to finish, Larsson’s latest refuses to ever slow down, instead trafficking in high-energy dance-pop joy.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
Lockwood, for one, refuses to sum her story up neatly.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025
Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Or, maybe someone who currently lives with you refuses to take ownership of perpetuating the mess downstairs.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Oct. 2025
But, fueled by her own sense of urgency to survive, Lenox refuses to stop resuscitating.
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 1 Oct. 2025
Aaron Rodgers refuses to throw downfield.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Yet Hearon refuses to let this reality define his path.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
If a traveler refuses to provide biometric data, that person will be denied entry.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
From start to finish, Larsson’s latest refuses to ever slow down, instead trafficking in high-energy dance-pop joy.
—Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
Lockwood, for one, refuses to sum her story up neatly.
—Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
-
If the judge denies the defense motion, the court would then move toward scheduling Trauernicht’s trial.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The union denies having any role in the slowdown of the nation's airspace in 2019.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
International pressure on Israel to end the war is increasing, with a growing list of countries deciding recently to recognize Palestinian statehood, which Israel rejects.—
WAFAA SHURAFA,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
-
When Rabbit asks to be the one to adopt Stacey after her graduation, Evelyn abusively rejects the notion and Rabbit is crushed.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fox News showed year-over-year viewership growth in the September ratings, while CNN and MSNBC saw significant audience declines.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
-
If either side declines to pick up their side of the option, as seems likely, Steer and the left-handed-hitting Will Benson could form a platoon in left field to replace Hays, with TJ Friedl in center and Noelvi Marte in right.—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The data analysis also ignores injuries and property destruction in non-fatal attacks as measures of political violence.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Sep. 2025
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But his mother constantly overshares, has no privacy filters on her accounts and ignores our requests to avoid posting our children’s names or our birthdays.—
Liz Weston,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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