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
Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris refused to accept any responsibility for the inflation that has devastated the middle-class and lower-income groups.
—Richard Stacy, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
Asher Price, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
As the waters fell, thick layers of mud mixed with refuse made streets unrecognizable.
—Joseph Wilson and Teresa Medrano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 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 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The surviving victim of the shooting initially provided some information to police, but after recovering from his injuries denied any knowledge of who shot him and refused to cooperate, authorities said.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris refused to accept any responsibility for the inflation that has devastated the middle-class and lower-income groups.
—Richard Stacy, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
The big picture: The change is part of a wider city effort to divert refuse from landfills.
—Asher Price, Axios, 31 Oct. 2024
As the waters fell, thick layers of mud mixed with refuse made streets unrecognizable.
—Joseph Wilson and Teresa Medrano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 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 22 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share