1
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of refuse
Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
An attorney for Abugharbieh refused a request for comment on Monday.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Cebu City generates about just over a million pounds garbage per day, The New York Times reported, adding that its officials have been in talks with nearby cities and provinces to dispose of the refuse.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
Drewenski said several employees laid off last fall to cut costs had also been reinstated, and addressed the fact that Harvey’s application for financially distressed city status was refused by the state.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
An attorney for Abugharbieh refused a request for comment on Monday.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
Images released by police showed a house filled with refuse and multiple dogs, including what appeared to be a mother dog and several puppies.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Cebu City generates about just over a million pounds garbage per day, The New York Times reported, adding that its officials have been in talks with nearby cities and provinces to dispose of the refuse.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
Officials said that after Cooper’s arrest, the first victim, a runaway, was crying hysterically and denied any involvement in prostitution.—
Samantha Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
Agresta denied news reports about the sloths dying from the cold, instead pinning the cause on viral infections, Inside Climate News said.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The court rejected the argument, concluding that a prospective rate hearing — unlike that on the response time — would be considered contested and the utility would have the opportunity to challenge the finding of imprudence then.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, but some Republicans rejected the bill, opposing earmarking millions more to maintain the fortified Capitol and equip it with the staff necessary to keep the screenings going.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not a dog barking or a feral cat knocking the lid off the garbage.—
Ellen Bass,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The protester who threw a garbage bin was arrested for reckless endangerment shortly after cops arrive, officials said.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
In another development, researchers in the US developed a new method that could turn discarded data center hardware into a reliable, eco-friendly source of rare earths and valuable metals.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Bass defended her administration’s handling of homelessness, pointing to declining homelessness counts and the city’s Inside Safe program, while criticizing Raman’s record on police hiring and past votes against some encampment enforcement measures near schools and other sensitive sites.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
Spatola and his legal team declined to comment immediately after the verdict.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The federal judge in that case ruled that a jury could find that State Farm had acted in bad faith if the plaintiffs' lawyers demonstrated that the company ignored certain kinds of hail damage.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In crush, puncture, and saw tests, the battery produced no smoke or flames – a safety profile that's hard to ignore.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 28,
New Atlas,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
-
The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Limon’s body was found April 24 on the Howard Frankland Bridge, also in a large black trash bag and with stab injuries, records state.—
Tony Marrero,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
Pratt, 42, has not been shy about his views, referring to Bass as trash, using the Spanish word basura as a play on her last name.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Refuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refuse. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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