Sentence examples for could have refused from inspiring English sources

Suggestions(5)

could not have refused

could have criticised

could have resigned

could have restricted

could have refrained

The phrase "could have refused" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past.
It implies that the subject had the ability or option to refuse something, but ultimately did not refuse it. Example: He could have refused to sign the contract, but he was afraid of losing the deal.

Exact(42)

They could have refused.

The Guardian

She reveals that she could have refused the job.

The New York Times

He could have refused to debate Mr. Zimmer at all.

The New York Times

I could have refused the detective, gone home and said nothing to my girls.

The New York Times

Galileo sometimes sprang to mind.He could have refused to believe his eyes, of course.

The Economist

Edexcel could have refused to accept Ofqual's order to downgrade pupils.

The Guardian

Similar(16)

Worse yet, I could've refused to see her.

Huffington Post

The president could have simply ordered the CIA to release the history, or his Attorney General could simply have refused to defend the agency's denial.

Huffington Post

Could I have refused?

The New York Times

He could not have refused to see her; her letter had been carefully insistent.

The Guardian - Books

How Katherine Willoughby felt is not recorded, but it would have been an offer she could hardly have refused.

Independent

More suggestions(12)

could have refuted

could have opposed

could have surrendered

could have ceased

could have authorised

could have resisted

could have relinquished

could have abstained

could have reversed

could have rejected

could have chosen

could have agreed

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