1
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refuses That ire has only grown as Takaichi repeatedly refuses to walk back her position, and scooped up a historic victory in a snap election because of it. —
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026 But what elevates the play into something truly great is that Lindsay-Abaire refuses to make Elliott a conventional villain. —Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026 Agnes refuses to laugh at Becka’s jokes. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026 Larter stars as Angela Norris, the fiercely independent wife of Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, a character who refuses to conform to expectations. —Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 In the course of the movie, Mary repeatedly tries to play a demo for Sam (Michaela Coel), her former costume designer, but Sam refuses to listen to it. —Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026 And for the last 2,000 years, the rocks-in-the-bottom-of-pots thing has been the dragon that refuses to die. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Apr. 2026 Section 4 anticipates dealing with a president who needs to step aside and refuses. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 And Avery refuses to let that happen. —Ryan Wilusz, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026 But what elevates the play into something truly great is that Lindsay-Abaire refuses to make Elliott a conventional villain. —Brent Lang, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026 Agnes refuses to laugh at Becka’s jokes. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026 Larter stars as Angela Norris, the fiercely independent wife of Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, a character who refuses to conform to expectations. —Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 In the course of the movie, Mary repeatedly tries to play a demo for Sam (Michaela Coel), her former costume designer, but Sam refuses to listen to it. —Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026 And for the last 2,000 years, the rocks-in-the-bottom-of-pots thing has been the dragon that refuses to die. —Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Apr. 2026 Section 4 anticipates dealing with a president who needs to step aside and refuses. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026 And Avery refuses to let that happen. —Ryan Wilusz, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuses
Verb
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Trader Joe's denies the suit's allegations and any wrongdoing, but agreed to settle the case to avoid further litigation.— Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
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Hernandez denies the accusations.— Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The former plantation rejects the rosy antebellum view, focusing instead on slavery’s horrors.— Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
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Iran rejects the prospect of negotiations being conducted under pressure or aimed at Tehran surrendering, the the Iranian official told Reuters.— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the USPS has become increasingly dependent on package delivery as first-class mail declines, making large customers like Amazon even more important.— Barbara Booth, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
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Brandenburg-Koch declines to talk specifically about the Busfield case.— Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That critique also conveniently ignores how much of the existing media landscape was built on government largesse.— Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 19 Apr. 2026
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In other words, the life-writer cannot take a doggedly factual approach that ignores a whole layer of emotional and imaginative experience.— Sara Wheeler, Big Think, 17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/refuses. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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