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
For Nikki, who died Monday at 81, our future depends upon our willingness to learn from everyday Black folks’ refusal to accept status-quo cruelties as incontrovertible realities.
—
L. Lamar Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
With this preliminary injunction, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will not be able to enforce the law giving Indiana utilities the right of first refusal on these projects.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Dec. 2024
Its resurgence is at least in part to waning effectiveness of some vaccines, but there is growing concern about refusal to vaccinate at all.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024
Fox News Digital reached out to UNRWA media officials on numerous occasions for its response to the contents of IMPACT-se’s and U.N. Watch’s dossiers, about allegations that UNRWA schools were not adhering to UNESCO standards, and about Lazzarini’s refusal to meet with Neuer.
—Beth Bailey, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refusal 
L. Lamar Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
With this preliminary injunction, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will not be able to enforce the law giving Indiana utilities the right of first refusal on these projects.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Dec. 2024
Its resurgence is at least in part to waning effectiveness of some vaccines, but there is growing concern about refusal to vaccinate at all.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024
Fox News Digital reached out to UNRWA media officials on numerous occasions for its response to the contents of IMPACT-se’s and U.N. Watch’s dossiers, about allegations that UNRWA schools were not adhering to UNESCO standards, and about Lazzarini’s refusal to meet with Neuer.
—Beth Bailey, Fox News, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refusal
Thesaurus Entries Near refusal
Cite this Entry
“Refusal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refusal. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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