1
as in denying
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 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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refusing
Moreover, lawmakers are engaged in budget negotiations, where the House is refusing to fund several of DeSantis’ priorities.
—
Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Former Representative Elizabeth Holtzman, one of the co-authors, has portrayed the act as a corrective to the moral failure of refusing entry to many Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.
—Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
In addition to the credit debt case, Eatherly faces a separate criminal case in which he is accused of becoming unruly at a Nashville steakhouse on Saturday and refusing to pay the nearly $400 bill.
—Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Just one year after a women's fencer was disqualified and punished for refusing to face a transgender opponent, a transgender competitor was forbidden from competition at the very same event.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Joe Eckardt, owner of Unbreakable Post, alleges he has been denied at least $1 million worth of work since refusing to participate in the scheme in 2023.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 May 2026
Howard was relentless, attacking the basket even when her outside shot wasn't falling, finishing 1-of-9 from three-point range but refusing to let the cold shooting night derail her impact on the game.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The whole financial gymnastics routine of someone refusing to admit that this isn’t working.
—Daren Smith, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Bass accused Crowley of leadership failures during the January 2025 windstorm that led to the deadly Palisades Fire, and also accused of refusing to prepare an after-action report on the firefight.
—City News Service, Daily News, 7 May 2026
Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Former Representative Elizabeth Holtzman, one of the co-authors, has portrayed the act as a corrective to the moral failure of refusing entry to many Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.
—Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
In addition to the credit debt case, Eatherly faces a separate criminal case in which he is accused of becoming unruly at a Nashville steakhouse on Saturday and refusing to pay the nearly $400 bill.
—Kristin M. Hall, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Just one year after a women's fencer was disqualified and punished for refusing to face a transgender opponent, a transgender competitor was forbidden from competition at the very same event.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Joe Eckardt, owner of Unbreakable Post, alleges he has been denied at least $1 million worth of work since refusing to participate in the scheme in 2023.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 May 2026
Howard was relentless, attacking the basket even when her outside shot wasn't falling, finishing 1-of-9 from three-point range but refusing to let the cold shooting night derail her impact on the game.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 13 May 2026
The whole financial gymnastics routine of someone refusing to admit that this isn’t working.
—Daren Smith, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Bass accused Crowley of leadership failures during the January 2025 windstorm that led to the deadly Palisades Fire, and also accused of refusing to prepare an after-action report on the firefight.
—City News Service, Daily News, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusing
Verb
-
Organizations can also be barred for promoting what the agency calls delegitimization campaigns against Israel; for denying the existence of Israel as a democratic state; or for employing an officeholder who has called for a boycott of Israel.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
In March, the Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling denying the 2024 petition.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
But the system kept rejecting it, saying my Colorado driver license wasn’t from the United States.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
-
When Nita rebuffs the advances of the lightweight cad Christophe (who’s Pierre’s brother), that’s the one focused emotion in the movie — a woman rejecting workplace harassment.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Black Bear officials cited the program's declining participation rates and finances as the reason.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
Sadly, bat populations are declining rapidly in North America.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Even the wokest of the wokes are ignoring poor Megan.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Our detailed reporting agitated the government, which went from ignoring our existence to breathing down our necks.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusing. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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