refusing

verb

present participle of refuse
1
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rejecting
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refusing Biscayne 21’s declaration — the document that establishes the condominium — required a unanimous vote to terminate the building’s condo association, a goal that seemed unlikely with a group of residents refusing to sell. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 Court records show Romo was cited for refusing to take a test for intoxication and first offense OWI. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 In the lawsuit, Kupsh acknowledges attending most of the demonstrations but denies being a ringleader, blocking anyone from campus walkways or refusing orders. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Catherine, who chose to dedicate her life to God, was executed for refusing to marry the Roman Emperor Maxentius. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Iceland, which gained independence from Denmark in 1944, has a proud history of refusing to be pushed around by bigger and richer European nations. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 The series remains perpetually glum, refusing to project any light behind a conceit begging for a few laughs. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026 Ten years before his conviction, Cacioppo spent months in prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating mob influences in the adult entertainment industry. — Jack Harvel august 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 Washington is also threatening damaging new sanctions on countries refusing to cut economic ties with Iran. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusing
  1. denying
  2. rejecting
  3. declining
  4. ignoring
Verb
  • The film follows a daughter trying to accompany her mother through her final stage, navigating the challenge of remaining close without denying the loss or imposing a particular way of experiencing it.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ridley Scott’s representatives are denying the recent report that the director blamed his Gladiator II star Paul Mescal for the film’s underwhelming box office numbers.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of denying
Verb
  • A lot of communities across the country are rejecting new data centers.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The council then has the final say in approving — or rejecting — Lucas’ nomination.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of rejecting
Verb
  • The Republican party has promised a return to the good ol’ days, with strong nuclear families at the crux and a fight against the declining birth rate.
    — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Additionally, the drug supply is always changing, with the potency of fentanyl declining in recent years.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of declining
Verb
  • The market isn't ignoring all this goodness at the moment, given Dell's rally is still respectable.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • All while ignoring the many examples of other big schools, like the Florida Gators, that have struggled to fill seats for noon games in August.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of ignoring

Browse Nearby Words

refuses
refusing
refutable
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Cite this Entry

“Refusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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