1
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reject
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in discarded
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of refuse
David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
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
Emma Collum, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2025
Two adult victims were treated on-scene and refused further treatment.
—Kerry Breen
july 5, CBS News, 5 July 2025
Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Across the 80-plus works featured will be early figurative paintings, abstractions from her mid-career period, and more recent works, some of which are adorned with refuse and allowed to hang free from the wall.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
Officials with the city’s Bureau of Sanitation said the existing trash fees have not been generating enough money to cover the true cost of refuse collection.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
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
Noun
In Florida, where leaders refused to expand it, pregnant women and new moms are already navigating a broken system.
—Emma Collum, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2025
Two adult victims were treated on-scene and refused further treatment.
—Kerry Breen
july 5, CBS News, 5 July 2025
Adjective
Soon, the four of them were crowded around the trash bin, picking through the refuse and arguing.
—Diego Lasarte, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Across the 80-plus works featured will be early figurative paintings, abstractions from her mid-career period, and more recent works, some of which are adorned with refuse and allowed to hang free from the wall.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
But the company denies claims that its equipment sparked the 2019 fire, which tore through Sylmar, Porter Ranch and Granada Hills — all suburbs of Los Angeles — burning 8,799 acres.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
-
Trump and other officials doubled down on claims Abrego Garcia was in the MS-13 gang, an accusation that Abrego Garcia denies.—
Ben Finley,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
New York Senator Julia Salazar, who was among the electeds observing hearings Thursday called for New Yorkers to reject what is happening inside lower Manhattan immigration courts.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
5 July 2025
-
Last summer, West Ham had a verbal offer of £15m rejected by Al Ittihad for midfielder N’Golo Kante, then 33.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
Wasps are also scavengers, and they can often be found flying around garbage bins looking for their next meal.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
-
Folsom 4th of July garbage schedule For those living in Folsom, trash and waste pickup will continue as scheduled, according to the city’s website.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated July 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
LeBron James already opted in to a $52.6 million deal with the Lakers for next season, the Rockets traded for Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers saw James Harden decline his option in return for a new deal and a raise.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
-
At the time, Harvard declined to comment on the president’s post.—
Laya Neelakandan,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
While Paladino’s nonsense was rightfully ignored, a letter from a member of the House majority to the AG may not be ignored, especially this AG, especially under this president.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
-
Those who depend on freewheeling and shoot-from-the-hip strategies and tactics to address a crisis are ignoring or disregarding fundamental crisis management best practices that favor a calm, deliberate, and thoughtful approach.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Chavez's action on that night left the crowd at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona, showering the ring with debris.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
After 9/11, undocumented immigrants were tasked with cleaning up the debris of the World Trade Center, as Karla Cornejo Villavicencio showed in her book The Undocumented Americans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
But despite the state’s best efforts to educate citizens on the importance of removing bird feeders, trash and food from yards, human-bear interactions continue to rise, showcasing a growing concern that bears are becoming less afraid of humans.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
30 June 2025
-
On trash pickup days, cans should be set out the morning of, not the night before, officials said.—
Helena Wegner,
Idaho Statesman,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
This anti-waste brand upcycles materials, and was founded by Kisa Sky Shiga.—
Nadja Sayej,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2022
-
Fanning out like urban guerrillas through Paris’ darkened streets well after midnight, the anti-waste activists shinny up walls and drain pipes, reaching for switches to turn off the lights. Click.—
The Christian Science Monitor,
The Christian Science Monitor,
3 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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