1
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rejecting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refusing
Most of the time, a child who is shoving at the playground or refusing to take turns with the blocks at daycare is just testing the boundaries of acceptable behavior.
—
Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
The Clintons agreed to testify later this month after initially refusing and facing a potential contempt vote.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
No country has boycotted a World Cup since World War II, though Olympic boycotts have been more frequent with coalitions of as many as five dozen countries refusing to take part in the Summer Games four times between 1956 and 1984.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Criminal contempt of Congress is a mechanism that the House or Senate can use to penalize a person for wilfully refusing to comply with a lawful or congressional subpoena.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Defend the 612 members witnessed as much when Renee Good—whose name and likeness appeared on a profile in one of its Signal chats—was killed by an ICE officer after driving her car in his vicinity and refusing to heed his instructions.
—Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
In a pair of lawsuits, Harvard said it’s being unfairly penalized for refusing to adopt the administration’s views.
—Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
The president and first lady — who met in college and shared two children, Mary and Russell — were uneasy about the light switches, refusing to touch them and leaving the task up to White House staff.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Huw is also a terrible planner, placing himself in dangerous situations for no discernible reason, refusing to ask for help or call the police at times when calling the police is the most glaringly obvious move, and generally not communicating with anyone.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Melissa Willets, Parents, 5 Feb. 2026
The Clintons agreed to testify later this month after initially refusing and facing a potential contempt vote.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
No country has boycotted a World Cup since World War II, though Olympic boycotts have been more frequent with coalitions of as many as five dozen countries refusing to take part in the Summer Games four times between 1956 and 1984.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Criminal contempt of Congress is a mechanism that the House or Senate can use to penalize a person for wilfully refusing to comply with a lawful or congressional subpoena.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Defend the 612 members witnessed as much when Renee Good—whose name and likeness appeared on a profile in one of its Signal chats—was killed by an ICE officer after driving her car in his vicinity and refusing to heed his instructions.
—Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
In a pair of lawsuits, Harvard said it’s being unfairly penalized for refusing to adopt the administration’s views.
—Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026
The president and first lady — who met in college and shared two children, Mary and Russell — were uneasy about the light switches, refusing to touch them and leaving the task up to White House staff.
—Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Huw is also a terrible planner, placing himself in dangerous situations for no discernible reason, refusing to ask for help or call the police at times when calling the police is the most glaringly obvious move, and generally not communicating with anyone.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusing
Verb
-
Authorities are increasingly denying detainees access to legal counsel and often holding them for days or weeks before allowing any phone calls to family.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Decades later, Faraci cooperated with Modrowski’s lawyer during the post-conviction proceedings and submitted two affidavits in 2019 and 2011 denying Modrowski was involved, court records show.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Gingles’ apartment, investigators found a letter from the DMV in Texas, dated less than two weeks before the murders, rejecting an application for a Texas certificate of title for a vehicle.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
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Even Republican districts are rejecting the rapid buildout of ICE detention facilities in their communities.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, lung cancer incidence rates are declining slower in Iowa than in other states.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Measles-vaccination rates have been steadily declining for several years; since last January, the country has logged its two largest measles epidemics in more than three decades.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some readers refuse to join one, stubbornly persisting in flipping to one section and ignoring the rest.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Hustle culture praised women for ignoring their instincts in the name of productivity.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusing. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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