refuse

To refuse is to decline, deny, reject, or resist. If a stranger offers you candy, you should politely refuse.

As a noun, refuse (pronounced REF-yooss) is food waste, scraps, or garbage. As a verb, refuse (pronounced ree-FYOOZ) means to reject. If you’re mad at me, you’ll probably refuse my invitation to hang out. If your fashion sense isn't up to date, the bouncer at an exclusive nightclub might refuse entry to you. If you’re sick and you need a kidney transplant, your doctor will give you drugs to stop your body from refusing the donor kidney.

Primary Meanings of refuse

1.
 v
show unwillingness towards
2.
 n
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
3.
 v
elude, especially in a baffling way
4.
 v
resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ
Full Definitions of refuse
1

v show unwillingness towards

Synonyms:
decline
Antonyms:
accept, consent, go for
give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
Types:
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disdain, freeze off, pooh-pooh, reject, scorn, spurn, turn down
reject with contempt
contract out
refuse to pay a levy to a union for political use
regret
decline formally or politely
repudiate
refuse to recognize or pay
disobey
refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient
rebuff, repel, snub
reject outright and bluntly
sit in
participate in an act of civil disobedience
counteract, countermine, sabotage, subvert, undermine, weaken
destroy property or hinder normal operations
balk, baulk, jib, resist
refuse to comply
Type of:
react, respond
show a response or a reaction to something

v refuse to accept

“He refused my offer of hospitality”
Synonyms:
decline, pass up, reject, turn down
disdain, freeze off, pooh-pooh, reject, scorn, spurn, turn down
reject with contempt
Antonyms:
accept, have, take
receive willingly something given or offered
have, receive
get something; come into possession of
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Types:
dishonor, dishonour
refuse to accept
bounce
refuse to accept and send back

v refuse entrance or membership

Synonyms:
reject, turn away, turn down
disdain, freeze off, pooh-pooh, reject, scorn, spurn, turn down
reject with contempt
Antonyms:
admit, allow in, intromit, let in
allow to enter; grant entry to
admit
serve as a means of entrance
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v refuse to let have

Synonyms:
deny
abnegate, deny
deny oneself (something); restrain, especially from indulging in some pleasure
Antonyms:
allow, grant
let have
allow, countenance, let, permit
consent to, give permission
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Types:
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keep back, withhold
hold back; refuse to hand over or share
block, freeze, immobilise, immobilize
prohibit the conversion or use of (assets)
keep to oneself
withhold information
deny
refuse to grant, as of a petition or request
reserve
hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency
immobilise, immobilize
hold as reserve or withdraw from circulation; of capital
deprive
keep from having, keeping, or obtaining
Type of:
hold on, keep
retain possession of
2

n food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

Synonyms:
food waste, garbage, scraps
Type of:
waste, waste material, waste matter, waste product
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
3

v elude, especially in a baffling way

Synonyms:
defy, resist
Antonyms:
apply, lend oneself
be applicable to; as to an analysis
apply, go for, hold
be pertinent or relevant or applicable
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Types:
beggar
be beyond the resources of
Type of:
elude, escape
be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by
4

v resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ

Synonyms:
reject, resist
Type of:
react, respond
show a response or a reaction to something

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