1
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of refuse
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 June 2025
But when Tharpe's family moved to Minnesota for her father's job, her new school in the Twin Cities refused to accommodate her late day schedule.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 12 June 2025
James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
But even with some trucks rolling, the immense quantity of refuse is overwhelming and options for residents to get rid of their waste are limited and time-consuming.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
Her newest single, ‘Manchild,’ is literally just about men who are useless who refuse to grow up.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 June 2025
But when Tharpe's family moved to Minnesota for her father's job, her new school in the Twin Cities refused to accommodate her late day schedule.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 12 June 2025
Noun
These killings doubled as cover for war crimes and a brutal shrug: what else to do with those cast as human refuse?
—James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
But even with some trucks rolling, the immense quantity of refuse is overwhelming and options for residents to get rid of their waste are limited and time-consuming.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
Small business owners should not be denied access to their customers because of the government’s desire to place unnecessary restrictions on commerce.—
Julian Canete,
Oc Register,
4 June 2025
-
The university in January 2024 denied Tucker’s appeal of the findings.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
But judges reviewing other eligibility cases have rejected this interpretation as construing Alston beyond its actual words.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2025
-
The Dolphins have maintained contact with veteran free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas, who rejected a Miami offer earlier this month.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
With the welcome citywide expansion of organic collection (brown bins) joining with paper (green bins) and metal, glass and plastic (blue bins), the remaining black bag garbage will be made of nonrecyclable items like those same thin plastics that Sims rejects that are used for wrapping or bags.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
8 June 2025
-
The teen was found dismembered in garbage bags in a remote area, NBC News previously reported.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The April 11 ruling came during a hearing in Maryland, where a Justice Department attorney declined to provide basic details about Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
7 June 2025
-
Full-time workers declined by 623,000, while part-timers rose by 33,000.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
What can also be said with certainty, however, is that — even ignoring, for one moment, the events that brought him to Chelmsford crown court in Essex, east of London — this is a story of what might have been.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
-
Titles were a foregone conclusion with two of the league’s three or four best players and the financial might to ignore the luxury tax.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Fortunately, the lighter rainfall levels have decreased the risk of a debris flow taking place in the Eaton and Palisades fire burn scars, a possibility forecasters warned of Monday.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
-
Remove brush and debris piles from around the home.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
My trash fee could exceed $2,000 per year — for service that used to cost nothing.—
Steven Cordova,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
-
Your town may have a trash pickup walk, a Thanksgiving turkey trot or a stroll to historic sites.—
Elizabeth Passarella,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
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 16 Jun. 2025.
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