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
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But the first lady's office squashed those rejection rumors for her son last week.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
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The founder who avoids raising prices fears rejection.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
Noun
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The impact on international travelers varies: tourism, work, and student visa applicants from affected countries may face delays or denials.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
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In its best moments, which are fantastic, Claudio dives deep into the unsettling nature of memory loss and denial but also into our incredible ability to recall and survive things from long ago.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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