as in rejection
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling
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Recent Examples of refusal
Despite the Senate's refusal to allocate funds for ICE and Customs and Border Protection, Republicans had already secured $75 billion for ICE last summer, meaning the agency is relatively insulated from any ongoing funding disruption.
—
Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Woods, who lives on Jupiter Island, is now in jail and has been charged with DUI with property damage and the refusal to submit to a lawful test, both misdemeanors.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
Woods will be facing a DUI charge, as well as additional charges for property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, Sheriff Villanueva said.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek says he is charged with two misdemeanors, driving under the influence with property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Woods, who lives on Jupiter Island, is now in jail and has been charged with DUI with property damage and the refusal to submit to a lawful test, both misdemeanors.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
Woods will be facing a DUI charge, as well as additional charges for property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test, Sheriff Villanueva said.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek says he is charged with two misdemeanors, driving under the influence with property damage, and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusal
Noun
-
The lawsuit follows the board’s rejection of the foundation’s application, citing a state Supreme Court ruling that came after the board rejected the foundation's application.—
KOKH Staff,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Mar. 2026
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Looks-maxxing has been described as a nihilistic rejection of society’s values.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The #ChurchToo and #SilenceIsNotSpiritual movements, along with scandals at Willow Creek and the International House of Prayer, reveal a pervasive pattern of abuse and denial.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
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Her covert affair with Davis became big news when a Chicago gossip columnist wrote a detailed account of their relationship in early 1958, including their plans to wed, despite their denials.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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