as in rejection
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
his flat refusal of our reasonable request was rather startling
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Recent Examples of refusal
In the midst of such unprecedented levels of disruption inside the UN, the U.S.’s refusal to pay its contribution is leaving an empty chair for other players.
—
Isabelle Mayault, The Dial, 8 July 2025
Ryan Smith, who was a limited partner in the teams, sold his entire stake after declining his right of first refusal last year to buy the two teams, Sportico previously reported.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 July 2025
His meetings in Lebanon came amid fears that Hezbollah’s refusal to immediately disarm would renew war with Israel after a shaky ceasefire agreement went into effect in November.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Critics and viewers alike praised its restraint, its atmosphere, its refusal to explain itself — qualities rarely associated with advertising.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Isabelle Mayault, The Dial, 8 July 2025
Ryan Smith, who was a limited partner in the teams, sold his entire stake after declining his right of first refusal last year to buy the two teams, Sportico previously reported.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 8 July 2025
His meetings in Lebanon came amid fears that Hezbollah’s refusal to immediately disarm would renew war with Israel after a shaky ceasefire agreement went into effect in November.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Critics and viewers alike praised its restraint, its atmosphere, its refusal to explain itself — qualities rarely associated with advertising.
—arkansasonline.com, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusal
Noun
-
In Cassidy’s time, the pre-academy era, there was next to no assistance for players dealing with rejection or setbacks.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
But this rejection of empathy has paved the way for dehumanizing rhetoric toward entire groups.—
Brian Recker,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
The denial cited documentation that the nickname was used to refer to New York decades before Batman was created.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
24 July 2025
-
Judge Robin Rosenberg, in her denial of that petition, said that an unrelated ruling in 2020 by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that a district court does not have the power to unseal grand jury records in instances not covered by the criminal procedure rule.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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