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
Earlier this month, the Department of Education froze all federal grant funding to Harvard over their refusal to bend to their demands.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025
In a visit to Kyiv in December last year, Scholz reiterated his refusal, even as Germany unveiled a military aid package worth €650 million.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 May 2025
While Tehran says that its nuclear program is exclusively for civilian use, its refusal to curb uranium enrichment has raised alarms in Israel and the West.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Khalil’s legal team had sparred with the Trump administration over the government’s refusal to permit the recent graduate to have physical contact with his 1-month-old son, Deen, who was born while Khalil remained in federal immigration custody in Louisiana.
—Cayla Bamberger, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025
In a visit to Kyiv in December last year, Scholz reiterated his refusal, even as Germany unveiled a military aid package worth €650 million.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 May 2025
While Tehran says that its nuclear program is exclusively for civilian use, its refusal to curb uranium enrichment has raised alarms in Israel and the West.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Khalil’s legal team had sparred with the Trump administration over the government’s refusal to permit the recent graduate to have physical contact with his 1-month-old son, Deen, who was born while Khalil remained in federal immigration custody in Louisiana.
—Cayla Bamberger, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for refusal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refusal
Noun
-
There’s no palm rejection when using the stylus, so my hand made unintended markings in my notes.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2025
-
One key driver of this was the constant exposure to judgment and perceived rejection.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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But the station’s website posted a story on Levine’s All-Star Game report that had no byline and no mention of the Cubs’ denial.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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Olson said that the school’s denial did not comply with the law.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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