1
as in to deny
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in discarded
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of refuse
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
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
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
Hoeven said the best outcome would be a bipartisan agreement to move nominees forward, but warned that if Democrats refuse to cooperate, Republicans are prepared to stay in session through August, pursue rule changes, or enable recess appointments.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
For decades, our workers have swept the streets and then put the refuse in bags next to the garbage pails on street corners.
—Peter Madonia, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
Officials with the city’s Bureau of Sanitation said the existing trash fees have not been generating enough money to cover the true cost of refuse collection.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
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
Noun
For example, Trump increased tariffs on Brazilian goods by 40 percentage points to 50% on Wednesday after its president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, refused Trump’s demands to end its trial against right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
Hoeven said the best outcome would be a bipartisan agreement to move nominees forward, but warned that if Democrats refuse to cooperate, Republicans are prepared to stay in session through August, pursue rule changes, or enable recess appointments.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2025
Adjective
Amid the refuse were 165 thrush bones alongside other common food remains like sea shells as well as fish and pig bones.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
For decades, our workers have swept the streets and then put the refuse in bags next to the garbage pails on street corners.
—Peter Madonia, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
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Yet for decades, tens of thousands of children in Hasidic yeshivas have been systematically denied access to that promise.—
Adina Mermelstein Konikoff,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
-
Thompson didn’t deny the rumors and hard launched their relationship with a post of his own featuring Megan to his IG, recapping their Bahamas trip.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
If any other construction would render the clause inoperative, that is an additional reason for rejecting such other construction, and for adhering to the obvious meaning.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
29 July 2025
-
While there can be many other reasons why your application is rejected, a qualifiable versus quantifiable resume could be a contributing factor.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
In cities, they are often seen soaring above garbage dumps, marketplaces and riverbanks, scavenging for scraps and small prey.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
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Jorge was seen dropping off a black garbage bag near the building’s boiler room after the victim was discovered, neighbors said.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
27 July 2025
Verb
-
Brown-Forman's sales declined 5% in the 2025 fiscal year, partly due to ongoing tariff disputes.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
-
When reached on the phone, Gate of the Era declined to comment.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Donald Trump promised to go after the worst of the worst, but his administration's heavy-handed tactics in many cases ignore people's constitutional rights and the rule of law.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
Having said that, beachgoers have already been ignoring signs and fencing to get to the beach, especially on weekends.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The weather service says flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
21 July 2025
-
This could include dead plants, piles of leaves, stones, or other debris.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
According to the probable cause affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE in January 2023, authorities identified him after matching DNA on trash taken from Bryan's parents' home to that of the sheath of the knife used in the stabbings that was left at the crime scene.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
24 July 2025
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An Afghan National Army pickup truck passes parked U.S. armored military vehicles, as smoke rises from a fire in a trash burn pit at Forward Operating Base Caferetta Nawzad, Helmand province south of Kabul, Afghanistan,...—
Sophie Clark,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2022
-
Fanning out like urban guerrillas through Paris’ darkened streets well after midnight, the anti-waste activists shinny up walls and drain pipes, reaching for switches to turn off the lights. Click.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
The Christian Science Monitor,
3 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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