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refuse

verb
re·​fuse | \ ri-ˈfyüz How to pronounce refuse (audio) \
refused; refusing

Definition of refuse

 (Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to express oneself as unwilling to accept refuse a gift refuse a promotion
2a : to show or express unwillingness to do or comply with refused to answer the question
b : to not allow someone to have or do (something) : deny they were refused admittance to the game
3 obsolete : give up, renounce deny thy father and refuse thy name— William Shakespeare
4 of a horse : to decline to jump or leap over

intransitive verb

: to withhold acceptance, compliance, or permission

refuse

noun
ref·​use | \ ˈre-ËŒfyüs How to pronounce refuse (audio) , -ËŒfyüz\

Definition of refuse (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : the worthless or useless part of something : leavings
2 : trash, garbage

refuse

adjective
ref·​use | \ ˈre-ËŒfyüs How to pronounce refuse (audio) , -ËŒfyüz\

Definition of refuse (Entry 3 of 3)

: thrown aside or left as worthless
Other Words from refuse Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about refuse

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Other Words from refuse

Verb

refuser noun

Choose the Right Synonym for refuse

Verb

decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. declined his party's nomination refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. refused to lend them the money reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. rejected the manuscript as unpublishable repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. spurned his overtures of friendship

Examples of refuse in a Sentence

Verb

 When they offered me the money, I couldn't refuse. They asked her to help but she refused.

Noun

 refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

 Lam has refused to rule out invoking emergency powers. — James Griffiths, CNN, "After arrests, thousands take to Hong Kong streets for 13th weekend of protests," 31 Aug. 2019 In a dispute over salary demands, Ms. Harper had refused to report for work, missing one episode. — John Rogers, BostonGlobe.com, "Valerie Harper, TV’s Rhoda, has died at 80," 30 Aug. 2019 United have steadfastly refused to sell for anything other than a premium fee – anywhere between £150m and £200m depending on the source. — SI.com, "Paul Pogba Tipped to Run Down Contract to Force Real Madrid Move But Report Misses Key Detail," 30 Aug. 2019 Some officials have refused to comply with the policy at risk of being fired. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: An asylum policy on shaky ground," 29 Aug. 2019 Davidson, who had campaigned for the U.K. to remain in the European Union, had previously refused to play along with the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. — David Meyer, Fortune, "Boris Johnson’s Latest Ploy Prompts Political Chaos That’s Extreme Even By Brexit Standards," 29 Aug. 2019 The group had refused to back then-candidate Trump in 2016. — Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, "Log Cabin Republicans lose executive director in another resignation after 2020 Trump endorsement," 27 Aug. 2019 Dulos claims the grandmother, Gloria Farber, has so far refused to do so. — Josh Kovner, courant.com, "Fotis Dulos wants his two oldest boys to tell a judge where they want to live as search for missing mom Jennifer Farber Dulos continues," 23 Aug. 2019 Police and the district attorney’s office have refused to say what specific actions led to the arrests of the men. — oregonlive.com, "6 indicted on charges related to May Day brawl at Portland bar," 22 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 Worst of all, most of these items are actually designed to be disposable, destined to fester atop a repulsive mountain of refuse. — Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, "Can Big Beauty Go Green? One Writer Tries to Save the Planet (and Have Her Powder Too)," 29 Aug. 2019 At the base was an overturned tricycle and, at the top, a few empty Corona bottles, but otherwise the area was free of refuse. — Rachel Poser, Harper's magazine, "Common Ground," 19 Aug. 2019

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