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refuse¹ Definition

re·fuse (ri fyo̵̅o̅z)

transitive verb -·fused, -·fus·ing

  1. to decline to accept; reject
    1. to decline to do, give, or grant
    2. to decline: with an infinitive object to refuse to go
    1. to decline to accept or submit to (a command, etc.); decline to undergo
    2. to decline to grant the request of (a person)
  2. to stop short at (a fence, etc.), without jumping it: said of a horse
  3. Obsolete to renounce

Etymology: ME refusen < OFr refuser < LL *refusare < L refusus, pp. of refundere: see refund

intransitive verb

to decline to accept, agree to, or do something

refuse¹ Related Forms

re·fuser noun

refuse² Definition

ref·use (refyo̵̅o̅s, -yo̵̅o̅z)

noun

anything thrown away or rejected as worthless or useless; waste; trash; rubbish

Etymology: ME < OFr refus, pp. of refuser: see refuse

adjective

thrown away or rejected as worthless or useless

refuse Synonyms

refuse

n.

refuse Synonyms

refuse

v.

decline, reject, repudiate, deny, spurn, resist, repel, scorn, pass up, disallow, forbid, have no plans to, not anticipate, demur, protest, withdraw, hold back, withhold, shun, evade, dodge, ignore, turn down, turn from, recoil, balk, beg to be excused, send regrets, beg off, make one's excuses, regret, send off, not budge, cut out of the budget, not budget, not care to, refuse to receive, dispense with, not be at home to, disaccord with, dissent, say no, make excuses, disapprove, set aside, turn away, brush off*, not buy*, turn thumbs down*, hold out*, hold off*, turn one's back on*, turn a deaf ear to*; see also deny.

Antonyms allow*, admit*, consent.

refuse is a direct, sometimes even blunt term, implying an emphatic denial of a request, demand, etc. to refuse a person money, to refuse permission; decline implies courtesy in expressing one's nonacceptance of an invitation, proposal, etc. he declined the nomination; reject stresses a negative or antagonistic attitude and implies positive refusal to accept, use, believe, etc. they rejected the damaged goods; repudiate implies the disowning, disavowal, or casting off with condemnation of a person or thing as having no authority, worth, validity, truth, etc. to repudiate the claims of faith healers; to spurn is to refuse or reject with contempt or disdain she spurned his attentions

refuse Usage Examples

Object

  • permission: In Paris, however, being a British subject, he was refused permission to be sent to the French front.
  • admission: We reserve the right to refuse admission to the Museum at any time.
  • cookie: You can set your web browser to refuse cookies.
  • entry: Without the necessary stamp in your passport, you may be refused entry.
  • request: We reserve the right to refuse a request for a listing without giving a reason.
  • asylum: He has been in England for 4 months and has already been refused asylum and is in the process of appeal.

Preposition: on

ground: It was because Mr Q's license had been refused on medical grounds that he felt unable to overturn the decision.

Adjective modifier

domestic: What happens if I put my domestic refuse in the wrong container?

Modifies a noun

  • sack: Only terraced houses with no front garden or rear access are allowed to use refuse sacks.
  • collector: The wheeled bins prevent serious injury for refuse collectors.
  • bin: Does it matter if I cannot shut the lid on my refuse bin?
  • collection: Click here for the full article... Household refuse collection S ome notes.
  • lorry: It is true that parked cars do cause problems for the refuse lorries and collectors.

Noun used with modifier

household: Dispose of used packaging and remaining product in the household refuse.

Infinitive complement

  • accept: He refused to accept a police caution in relation to the offenses.
  • let: Your employer can refuse to let you take holiday.
  • comply: If the employer refuses to comply, the employe is deemed to be employed until the full hearing.
  • acknowledge: God may also be angry with people who refuse to acknowledge all He has given them.
  • admit: Yet the tobacco lobby still refuses to admit the problem even exists.
  • co-operate: West Mercia Police have refused to co-operate with this demand.

Browse dictionary entries near refuse

  1. refusal
  2. refurbish
  3. refunding
  4. refunded
  5. refund
  6. refulgent
  7. refugium
  8. refugee
  9. refuge
  10. refuel
  1. refused
  2. refusenik
  3. refutation
  4. refute
  5. reg
  6. regain
  7. regal
  8. regal moth
  9. regale
  10. regalia