Refuse
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈɹɛfjuːs/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Refuse is an adjective meaning Discarded, rejected.
Meaning
Discarded, rejected.
More Meanings
- Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.
- (transitive) To decline (a request or demand).
- (intransitive) To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
- (ditransitive) To withhold (something) from (someone); to not give it to them or to bar them from having it.
- (military) To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the centre, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular alignment when troops are about to engage the enemy.
- (obsolete, transitive) To disown.
- (obsolete) refusal
Example Sentences
My request for a pay rise was refused.
I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
If ye refuse […] ye shall be devoured with the sword.
I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused.
Word Forms
- refuses
- refusing
- refused
- refusest
- refusedst
- refuseth
Synonyms for refuse
Depending on context, synonyms include discards, garbage, rubbish, trash, decline, reject.
Antonyms for refuse
Common opposites include apply, have, take, admit, allow, accept.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include reject, deny, resist, defy, decline, garbage.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.