refused; refusing
1
: to express oneself as unwilling to accept
refuse a gift
refuse a promotion
2
a
: to show or express unwillingness to do or comply with
refused to answer the question
b
: to not allow someone to have or do (something) : deny
they were refused admittance to the game
4
of a horse
: to decline to jump or leap over
: to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission
refuser
noun
Examples of refuse in a Sentence
Verb
When they offered me the money, I couldn't refuse.
They asked her to help but she refused.
Noun
refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Read Next National Company refused to hire women as AL security officers, feds say.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
Traffic congestion, air, water and noise pollution, excessive plastic usage, flooding, and unsatisfactory refuse collection processes, are just some of the problems the Thai capital has to contend with.
—Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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
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show current usage.
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Verb
Kylie said Jason refused to let the name just be Finn and insisted on Finnley.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Read Next National Company refused to hire women as AL security officers, feds say.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
When Todd tries to coax him out of the car, Indy at first refuses, displaying the sort of common sense that humans in horror films too often lack.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
Traffic congestion, air, water and noise pollution, excessive plastic usage, flooding, and unsatisfactory refuse collection processes, are just some of the problems the Thai capital has to contend with.
—Isabelle Kliger, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuse. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
refuse
1 of 2 verb
re·fuse
ri-ˈfyüz 
refused; refusing
1
: to say one will not accept : reject
refused the money
2
a
: to show or express positive unwillingness
refused to act
b
: to say one will not grant : deny
was refused entrance
3
: to withhold the accepting, following, or permitting of something
refuser
noun
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