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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of refuse
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
Megan McCluskey, Time, 18 July 2025
Sheryl Crow is refusing to accept the current political landscape as her new normal.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 July 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
For decades, our workers have swept the streets and then put the refuse in bags next to the garbage pails on street corners.
—Peter Madonia, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
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
Noun
But instead of handling the situation like an adult and having a conversation, Hannah chooses to lock herself in a rest stop bathroom and refuse to talk to him.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 18 July 2025
Sheryl Crow is refusing to accept the current political landscape as her new normal.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 July 2025
Adjective
Amid the refuse were 165 thrush bones alongside other common food remains like sea shells as well as fish and pig bones.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2025
For decades, our workers have swept the streets and then put the refuse in bags next to the garbage pails on street corners.
—Peter Madonia, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
When Nguyen refused the search and denied the allegation, one deputy allegedly called him a liar and threatened to arrest him.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
22 July 2025
-
Trump denies writing the letter and sued the newspaper's publisher over the story July 18.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
If anyone else tries such commands, the AGI and ASI reject them summarily.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
New York’s 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Maxwell’s appeal effort last year, finding that the deal drawn up in 2007 and approved the following year only protected Epstein and his coconspirators in South Florida.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Another item that is often forgotten is garbage bags for collecting waste along the way, especially when passing through remote areas without public bins.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
The Bureau of Rodent Control has been increasing collaboration with the Bureau of Sanitation to replace faulty garbage carts, which rats can exploit to obtain more food.—
William Tong,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
Brown-Forman's sales declined 5% in the 2025 fiscal year, partly due to ongoing tariff disputes.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
-
When reached on the phone, Gate of the Era declined to comment.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Donald Trump promised to go after the worst of the worst, but his administration's heavy-handed tactics in many cases ignore people's constitutional rights and the rule of law.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
Having said that, beachgoers have already been ignoring signs and fencing to get to the beach, especially on weekends.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
This could include dead plants, piles of leaves, stones, or other debris.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 July 2025
-
The weather service says flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
According to the probable cause affidavit reviewed by PEOPLE in January 2023, authorities identified him after matching DNA on trash taken from Bryan's parents' home to that of the sheath of the knife used in the stabbings that was left at the crime scene.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
24 July 2025
-
Perry spent 16 years in the family business, HQ Dumpsters and Recycling, before it was sold last year to trash hauler CWPM in Plainville.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
23 July 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 29 Jul. 2025.
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