REFUSE Synonyms: 225 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'refuse' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of refuse are decline , reject , repudiate , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. // refused to lend them the money

Q: In what contexts can 'decline' take the place of 'refuse'?

In some situations, the words decline and refuse are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When is 'reject' a more appropriate choice than 'refuse'?

The synonyms reject and refuse are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When can 'repudiate' be used instead of 'refuse'?

The words repudiate and refuse can be used in similar contexts, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. // teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Q: When could 'spurn' be used to replace 'refuse'?

Although the words spurn and refuse have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

refuse 1 of 3

verb

ri-ˈfyüz

Definition of refuse next

as in to deny

to be unwilling to grant the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reject

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

refuse

2 of 3

noun

ˈre-ˌfyüs

as in garbage

discarded or useless material refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

refuse

3 of 3

adjective

as in discarded

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word refuse different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of refuse are decline, reject, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

In what contexts can decline take the place of refuse?

In some situations, the words decline and refuse are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When is reject a more appropriate choice than refuse?

The synonyms reject and refuse are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When can repudiate be used instead of refuse?

The words repudiate and refuse can be used in similar contexts, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

When could spurn be used to replace refuse?

Although the words spurn and refuse have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

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 refuse

Verb

Meanwhile, Costco has refused to back off of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which have become a focus of Trump’s attacks in the early days of the new term. —

Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025 Those that refuse or whose families can’t come up with the money often disappear. —

Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2025

Noun

The big picture: The change is part of a wider city effort to divert refuse from landfills. —

Asher Price, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024 As the waters fell, thick layers of mud mixed with refuse made streets unrecognizable. —

Joseph Wilson and Teresa Medrano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024

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 See all Example Sentences for refuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse

Verb

As a result, the court gave the Metropolitan AME Church ownership of the trademark, giving them the right to deny use of the group's name and yellow or black laurel wreath symbol.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2025
The emails suggest the teams played a significant role in managing the fallout from the abuse allegations, including helping to remove names from the list of clergy credibly accused of molesting children—actions the teams have denied.

— David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

Definition of deny

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“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

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Last Updated: 10 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of refuse

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noun

adjective

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