refused; refusing
1
: to express oneself as unwilling to accept
refuse a gift
refuse a promotion
2
a
: to show or express unwillingness to do or comply with
refused to answer the question
b
: to not allow someone to have or do (something) : deny
they were refused admittance to the game
4
of a horse
: to decline to jump or leap over
: to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission
refuser
noun
Synonyms
Examples of refuse in a Sentence
Verb
When they offered me the money, I couldn't refuse.
They asked her to help but she refused.
Noun
refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up
Recent Examples on the Web
Issy Ronald, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Georgi Gordon Rancho Mirage Advertisement Arte, go home Once again, fan antagonist Arte Moreno refuses to send Angels radio broadcasters Terry Smith and Mark Langston out on the road to cover the team.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
There are medical providers out there who are not as in tune with this, or refuse to believe that someone can be this sick for this long and not have any biomarkers or physical-exam findings that support their feelings.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Democratic lawmakers didn't show up for the committee, leaving three empty seats and the opportunity for Republicans to criticize them as refusing to hold members of their own party accountable.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Lee refused to accept Wray’s assurances the program has been reformed.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The president has long refused to curb the arms flow to influence Israel’s approach to the war.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Washburn refused to answer questions about it at a disciplinary hearing in violation of the teacher’s union contract, the resolution states.
—Jennifer Edwards Baker and Chancelor Winn, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
While millions of Californians play by the rules and pay their taxes, Steve Garvey refuses to pay his.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2023
This will streamline processes from managing refuse collection routes to issuing permits and licensing, making decisions on urban planning matters, and ensuring that services are delivered in a way that is valuable and personalized to each citizen.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Alexander McQueen showed his spring/summer 2001 collection, Voss, in a refuse collection depot in Victoria.
—Sarah Mower, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2024
Sure enough, a green Paris garbage truck was seen collecting a long, high pile of rubbish Tuesday outside a school on a Left Bank street — although the truck was full long before all the refuse could be cleaned up.
—Elaine Ganley, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Mar. 2023
By next March, all businesses — which generate about half of the city’s daily refuse — will have to do the same.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2023
But even advocates of more affordable housing refuse to change zoning to allow more supply.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
With more room for processing refuse, and more systems for diverting material away from the dump, waste managers hope to bury less garbage in the landfill and keep it operable longer.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2023
Across the city, residential trash pickup in many cases was canceled, delaying refuse removal schedules by one day for the remainder of the week.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2023
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Dec. 2023
Everything is tightly regulated in Rwanda, from refuse management to social organization.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2023
The initial one of these Lunaz is focusing on is refuse collection.
—James Morris, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
Verb
However, UConn players voiced their frustration but refused to use it to explain their defeat.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Georgi Gordon Rancho Mirage Advertisement Arte, go home Once again, fan antagonist Arte Moreno refuses to send Angels radio broadcasters Terry Smith and Mark Langston out on the road to cover the team.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
There are medical providers out there who are not as in tune with this, or refuse to believe that someone can be this sick for this long and not have any biomarkers or physical-exam findings that support their feelings.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Democratic lawmakers didn't show up for the committee, leaving three empty seats and the opportunity for Republicans to criticize them as refusing to hold members of their own party accountable.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Lee refused to accept Wray’s assurances the program has been reformed.
—USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The president has long refused to curb the arms flow to influence Israel’s approach to the war.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Washburn refused to answer questions about it at a disciplinary hearing in violation of the teacher’s union contract, the resolution states.
—Jennifer Edwards Baker and Chancelor Winn, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
While millions of Californians play by the rules and pay their taxes, Steve Garvey refuses to pay his.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
Washington Examiner reserves the right (but has no obligation) in its sole discretion to pre-screen, edit, refuse, move or remove any Content that is posted on the Digital Services.
—Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2023
This will streamline processes from managing refuse collection routes to issuing permits and licensing, making decisions on urban planning matters, and ensuring that services are delivered in a way that is valuable and personalized to each citizen.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Alexander McQueen showed his spring/summer 2001 collection, Voss, in a refuse collection depot in Victoria.
—Sarah Mower, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2024
Sure enough, a green Paris garbage truck was seen collecting a long, high pile of rubbish Tuesday outside a school on a Left Bank street — although the truck was full long before all the refuse could be cleaned up.
—Elaine Ganley, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Mar. 2023
By next March, all businesses — which generate about half of the city’s daily refuse — will have to do the same.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2023
But even advocates of more affordable housing refuse to change zoning to allow more supply.
—Richard McGahey, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
With more room for processing refuse, and more systems for diverting material away from the dump, waste managers hope to bury less garbage in the landfill and keep it operable longer.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2023
Across the city, residential trash pickup in many cases was canceled, delaying refuse removal schedules by one day for the remainder of the week.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2023
Adjective
Cement mixers, roll-off and dump trucks, which all share a common architecture, will be built first, followed by refuse trucks and terminal tractors.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Dec. 2023
Everything is tightly regulated in Rwanda, from refuse management to social organization.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2023
The initial one of these Lunaz is focusing on is refuse collection.
—James Morris, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near refuse
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuse. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refuse
1 of 2 verb
re·fuse
ri-ˈfyüz 
refused; refusing
1
: to say one will not accept : reject
refused the money
2
a
: to show or express positive unwillingness
refused to act
b
: to say one will not grant : deny
was refused entrance
3
: to withhold the accepting, following, or permitting of something
refuser
noun
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