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   Ref·use

   /rəˈfyo͞oz/

   

   verb

   • 1. indicate or show that one is not willing to do something: "I refused to answer"
   • ▪ indicate that one is not willing to accept or grant (something offered or requested): "she refused a cigarette" Similar declineturn downsay no torejectspurnscornrebuffdisdainrepudiatedismissrepulseshake one's headsend one's regretsbalk atdemur atprotest atjib atdraw the line atinformal:pass upknock backwithholdnot grantdisapprovedenydiscountenanceinformal:give the thumbs down toOpposite acceptgrant
   • ▪ (of a thing) fail to perform a required action: "the car refused to start"
   • ▪ decline to accept an offer of marriage from (someone): "he's so conceited he'd never believe anyone would refuse him"
   • ▪ (of a horse) stop short or run alongside (a fence or other obstacle) instead of jumping it: "her horse refused a high hedge"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French refuser, probably an alteration of Latin recusare ‘to refuse’, influenced by refutare ‘refute’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. refuser noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • U

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

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