1
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in garbage
discarded or useless material
refuse had littered the playground until our volunteer group cleaned it up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in discarded
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of refuse
Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
The panel of House and Senate members argued over whether to punish the universities for their DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — or whether to reward the schools for recent actions, like refusing to compete with a volleyball team with a transgender athlete.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2025
Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Dec. 2024
In 2018, Rwanda raised tariffs on such imports in defiance of U.S. pressure, citing concerns the West’s refuse undermined efforts to strengthen the domestic textile industry.
—Francis Kokutse, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Dec. 2023
Everything is tightly regulated in Rwanda, from refuse management to social organization.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Verb
The retro approach has been years in the making, with Trump refusing to back down in the face of a tumbling stock market and public recriminations from the United States’ top allies.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
The panel of House and Senate members argued over whether to punish the universities for their DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — or whether to reward the schools for recent actions, like refusing to compete with a volleyball team with a transgender athlete.
—Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
The municipal landfill closed forty years ago, leaving refuse—mostly metal, wood, and other scraps—beneath the earth.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 2 Dec. 2024
In 2018, Rwanda raised tariffs on such imports in defiance of U.S. pressure, citing concerns the West’s refuse undermined efforts to strengthen the domestic textile industry.
—Francis Kokutse, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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
Everything is tightly regulated in Rwanda, from refuse management to social organization.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for refuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refuse
Verb
-
At her appearance, the Court denied the state’s motion to detain Formella pre-trial and released her with conditions including no entry into Downers Grove South High School and no contact with anyone under the age of eighteen.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The government of Isla Mujeres also denied that the event was taking place there.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
There are plenty of glaring examples, such as Steve Jobs and Google being rejected by some of the world’s most renowned VCs (https://www.bvp.com/anti-portfolio).—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Superior Court Judge Craig Collins from neighboring Gaston county also rejected it after Tench’s friends and family — his mother, sister and aunts — submitted and read aloud letters underlining the effect Tench’s disappearance and apparent death have had.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Mountains of garbage are said to be visible from space and people have complained of seeing rats as big as cats in the refuse.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Apr. 2025
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But also, increasingly, in marine food chains and immense garbage patches in the oceans.—
Nina Agrawal,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
A number of people there have already been impacted or fear what might happen, including a teacher whose students will have fewer opportunities, a business owner who is uncertain how to plan and several senior citizens worried about declining income in their retirement.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
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Therefore, sell-side strategists’ year-end price targets for the S & P 500 will decline unless the administration makes a significant shift on tariffs soon.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.—
Brenda Stolyar,
Wired News,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Pedro Pascal isn't ignoring an obvious parallel between himself and his character in the HBO series The Last of Us.—
Arabella Hau,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The restaurant was in violation of 13 standards, including an employee preparing food with jewelry on and food debris on kitchen equipment.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Apr. 2025
-
In neighboring Arkansas, a tornado near Blytheville lofted debris at least 25,000 feet high, according to weather service meteorologist Chelly Amin.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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From a free boat ride in the Florida Keys that targets the trash in treasured waters, to hotels with sustainability at their core, to thrilling eco-friendly experiences, make your trip to Florida both fun and impactful.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Apr. 2025
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In those instances, give your extra set of hands a straightforward task, like taking out the trash or clearing the table.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Apr. 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 15 Apr. 2025.
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