Definitions

refusal

[ri-fyoo-zuhl] / rɪˈfyu zəl /

NOUN

denial of responsibility; unwillingness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ban defiance exclusion noncompliance rejection reversal veto

STRONG

abnegation choice declension declination disapproval disavowal disclaimer disfavor dissent enjoinment forbidding interdiction negation nix no nonacceptance option pass prohibition proscription rebuff refutation regrets renouncement renunciation repudiation repulse repulsion turndown withholding writ

WEAK

cold shoulder disallowance discountenancing knockback nonconsent thumbs-down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acceptance allowance approval permission ratification sanction

STRONG

agreement attraction confirmation endorsement

WEAK

OK grant offer

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Back in 416 B.C., the refusal to submit to Athens, the superpower of antiquity, ended badly for the islanders of Melos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Meanwhile, despite Anthropic's ongoing lawsuit against the US Department of Defense over its refusal to accept government use of its AI tools, US government agencies have been testing Mythos too.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Heteropessimism isn’t an anti-straight ideology or a refusal to couple up.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

The prosecutor's office in the northwestern city of Brest said a criminal investigation had been opened over failure to prove a vessel's nationality, absence of a flag and refusal to comply.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

The refusal of crumpets stopped Major Puff mid-march.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Vocabulary lists containing refusal

"The First Day of School," Vocabulary from the short story

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poems about parents

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