1
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of refuse
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
The panel of House and Senate members argued over whether to punish the universities for their DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — or whether to reward the schools for recent actions, like refusing to compete with a volleyball team with a transgender athlete.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2025
Francis Kokutse, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
The new container rules aim to eliminate the piles of refuse that provide sustenance for up to three million New York rats each year.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 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
Verb
The retro approach has been years in the making, with Trump refusing to back down in the face of a tumbling stock market and public recriminations from the United States’ top allies.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
The panel of House and Senate members argued over whether to punish the universities for their DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — or whether to reward the schools for recent actions, like refusing to compete with a volleyball team with a transgender athlete.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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
The new container rules aim to eliminate the piles of refuse that provide sustenance for up to three million New York rats each year.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
The original post about Hailey's like has seemingly been removed and the model has denied the allegations through a rep.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing Trump's executive order that the U.S. now only recognizes two sexes, male and female, says if the gender listed on an applicant's passport does not match their gender assigned at birth, their travel permit or visa application can be denied.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The company must take the job listing down and reject all the candidates that applied.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
In May 2023, in an election monitored by USA Hockey, CAHA members rejected Kanai in favor of the association’s new president, Brian Smith, who promptly terminated Schaffer.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The organization also sampled 25 different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organic compounds that form when oil, wood or garbage burns.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Town Councilman Tim Clayton said the new fee, which will be charged to residential customers, will be effective April 1 and is part of a contractual agreement with Republic Services, the town’s garbage/recycling carrier.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Recent polls have suggested that dissatisfaction with Trump's handling of the economy is a key factor in his declining popularity.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Big Savage Mountain, Bear Pen, and Dan’s Mountain Wildlands all provide valuable habitat for our declining bird populations.—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Yet there’s no ignoring the fact that the Rockies would’ve loved to have Brito penciled in as their second baseman this year.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Dazed individuals are seen walking among debris in a hallway, with smoke in the air and power knocked out.—
Abeer Salman,
CNN,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The mayor reported falling debris and fires in three districts of the capital.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That beat the alternative of having people walk up and down the trails with heavy bags of trash, said Steve Lozano, deputy chief of the Fire-Rescue Department.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2025
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Videos of the scene show the parking lot riddled with massive piles of trash and one of the campers engulfed in flames.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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 5 Apr. 2025.
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