refusalnoun [ C or U ]
uk/rɪˈfjuː.zəl/us/rɪˈfjuː.zəl/C1 the act of refusing to do or accept something:
Our request for permission to travel met with/received a flat/point-blank (= complete) refusal from the authorities.
[ + to infinitive ] The government's refusal to see that the protection of the environment must be our first priority today is a great tragedy.
More examples
- He made some fairly damning remarks about the government's refusal to deal with the problem.
- The University has docked lecturers' pay/wages by 20% because of their refusal to mark exam papers.
- The government has reiterated its refusal to compromise with terrorists.
- What do you infer from her refusal?
- My sister's selling her car and she's offered me first refusal on it.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Refusing & rejecting
- abnegate
- blow
- bugger
- damned
- demur
- derecognize
- disclaim
- door
- override
- react against sth
- shoot
- shun
- sit
- sit sth out
- throw
- throw sth out
- turn sb away
- veto
- vote sth down
- wash
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