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
Synonyms
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
Davey Winder, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Trump also refused to commit to not using U.S. military to regain control of the Panama Canal.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Dec. 2024
In 2018, Rwanda raised tariffs on such imports in defiance of U.S. pressure, citing concerns the West’s refuse undermined efforts to strengthen the domestic textile industry.
—Francis Kokutse, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
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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Verb
With security vulnerabilities already confirmed for billions of Android users along with an ongoing and hard-to-detect cyberattack, Gmail users warned do not click and Google refusing to fix a reported vulnerability, 2025 has got off to a shocking start.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Trump also refused to commit to not using U.S. military to regain control of the Panama Canal.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
The municipal landfill closed forty years ago, leaving refuse—mostly metal, wood, and other scraps—beneath the earth.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Dec. 2024
In 2018, Rwanda raised tariffs on such imports in defiance of U.S. pressure, citing concerns the West’s refuse undermined efforts to strengthen the domestic textile industry.
—Francis Kokutse, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
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
Dictionary Entries Near refuse
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refuse. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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