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
Another involved his refusal to return classified documents to the federal government after leaving office.
—
Chris Megerian, Twin Cities, 4 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, Biden’s refusal to exit the 2024 presidential race after a disastrous initial debate performance in June kicked off a whirlwind season that gave rise to Harris.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
The system proved incapable of punishing Trump personally for his concerted, multifaceted refusal to accept his defeat and accept a peaceful transfer of power in 2020.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Harris supporters called Trump a threat to democracy for his refusal to concede his 2020 loss to Biden, unfounded election fraud claims and his supporters’ Capitol riot to disrupt Biden’s presidential certification.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refusal 
Chris Megerian, Twin Cities, 4 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, Biden’s refusal to exit the 2024 presidential race after a disastrous initial debate performance in June kicked off a whirlwind season that gave rise to Harris.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
The system proved incapable of punishing Trump personally for his concerted, multifaceted refusal to accept his defeat and accept a peaceful transfer of power in 2020.
—Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
Harris supporters called Trump a threat to democracy for his refusal to concede his 2020 loss to Biden, unfounded election fraud claims and his supporters’ Capitol riot to disrupt Biden’s presidential certification.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 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 30 Nov. 2024.
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