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refuseto say or show that you are not willing to do, give, or accept something

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to say or show that you are not willing to do, give, or accept something

Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈfjuːz/

Example Sentences

  • My cat refuses to wear the cute dinosaur costume I bought.
  • He refused the job offer because the salary was too low.
  • The garbage truck comes to collect refuse every Tuesday.

refuse

VERB

[/rɪˈfjuːz/]

to say or show that you are not willing to do, give, or accept something

The scientist refused to alter the research results.
💡 Concept

The scientist refused to alter the research results.

The queen refused the unfair proposal. (REJECT + SAY NO = REFUSE → refuse means to reject or decline something
🧠 Mnemonic

The queen refused the unfair proposal. (REJECT + SAY NO = REFUSE → refuse means to reject or decline something

Refuse the misuse, or everything may be lost.
🎵 Rhyme

Refuse the misuse, or everything may be lost.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/rɪˈfjuːz/
🇬🇧 UK/rɪˈfjuːz/

🌳Etymology

Prefixre--
Rootfus

Origin

From Old French 'refuser' meaning to reject or decline, derived from Latin 'recusare' which combines 're-' (back) and 'causa' (cause/reason), literally meaning to oppose or object.

Breakdown

re- (back/against) + fuse (from Latin fusus, past participle of fundere meaning to pour/cast) = refuse (to pour back, reject)

🎵Rhyme

abuseconfuseexcuseamuse
abuse
confuse
excuse
amuse

🔗Collocations

refuse to do
flatly refuse
refuse permission
refuse an offer
household refuse
refuse collection
refuse disposal

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My cat refuses to wear the cute dinosaur costume I bought.

He refused the job offer because the salary was too low.

The garbage truck comes to collect refuse every Tuesday.

😄 Fun example

My phone refuses to charge when I really need it most.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

rejectdeclinedenyturn downrebuff

Antonyms

acceptagreeconsent

Related

garbagewastedenialrejectiondecline

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