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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of refuse
Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Sadly, no sign of appeal The First District refused to rehear its decision by all 13 members of the court but certified two key questions to the Supreme Court.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025
James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
But even with some trucks rolling, the immense quantity of refuse is overwhelming and options for residents to get rid of their waste are limited and time-consuming.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
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
After receiving evidence that his platform was endangering children, however, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to bolster the platform's safety teams.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
Sadly, no sign of appeal The First District refused to rehear its decision by all 13 members of the court but certified two key questions to the Supreme Court.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025
Noun
These killings doubled as cover for war crimes and a brutal shrug: what else to do with those cast as human refuse?
—James Wood, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
But even with some trucks rolling, the immense quantity of refuse is overwhelming and options for residents to get rid of their waste are limited and time-consuming.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Apr. 2025
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
-
No matter the medium, there’s no denying that art stirs the senses unlike most forms of expression.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The Boise City Council denied that appeal in April in a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Luci Willits the lone dissenter.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
On May 16, Brown appeared in Manchester Magistrates’ Court, where Judge Joanne Hirst rejected his bail request.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
18 May 2025
-
To compound the embarrassment, Arsenal fan group Ashburton Army had raised more than £12,000 to fund their own tifo, which the club rejected (fans who had donated were refunded their money).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Noun
-
Any actor that’s been working for over three decades has a giant garbage bag filled of pilots.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2025
-
Bears are generally solitary, shy animals but are food-driven and often find easy meals in garbage bins.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo declined to comment on the WSJ report.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
-
The State Department declined to comment on the pope’s status.—
Russ Bynum,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
24 May 2025
-
Even narrowing the term to the élite outlets that have traditionally set the political agenda would ignore the distance, or even antipathy, that marked such outlets’ relationship with Biden and his team.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Species: The most valuable trees are hardy, durable, highly adaptable and won’t drop debris like nuts or pods everywhere.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
22 May 2025
-
In February 2025, officials noted that although Lake James is safe for swimming and boating in the summer 2025 season, boaters need to take extra caution with remaining debris in the water after Hurricane Helene.—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
For such a staunch advocate of pop trash, Cocker is surprisingly tuned out from modern radio.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
23 May 2025
-
Despite months of neighborhood opposition, a trash truck depot will indeed move forward on Randolph Avenue in St. Paul.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
23 May 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 30 May. 2025.
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