in refusal

USAGE SUMMARY

'in refusal' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It means to reject or decline something. Example: She was in refusal of the job offer, stating that the salary was too low.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

His power, it seemed, lay entirely in refusal.

The New Yorker

I started to shake my head in refusal and disbelief.

The New York Times

Unnecessary time pressure in refusal of life-sustaining therapies: fear of missing the opportunity to die.

Harvard University

Response to open peer commentaries for "Unnecessary time pressure in refusal of life-sustaining therapies".

Harvard University

In Dickinson's case, Wineapple observes, mother and daughter both "exercised power in refusal".

The New Yorker

The great disconnection is well under way, expressed in cynicism, sneering, refusal to join in, refusal to "connect".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

It has reported a jump in refusals over the last few years.

The Guardian - Books

Purchase attempts at these pharmacies were more likely to result in refusals or overcharging.

AIDS and Behavior

There have also been issues with declining response rates in the past, and an increase in refusals once contacted [ 61].

BMC Veterinary Research

The improvement is due to a reduction in refusals, from 175 (20%) in the base cohort to 138(16%) in the new cohort.

BMC Public Health

Whatever, the reason, however, Abraham is steadfast in his refusal to refuse.     .

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in refusal" when you want to emphasize the state of rejecting something, particularly in formal or legal contexts. For example, "The company remained in refusal of the settlement offer."

Common error

Avoid overusing "in refusal" when a simpler word like "rejecting" or "declining" would suffice. While grammatically correct, "in refusal" can sometimes sound overly formal or stilted, especially in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in refusal" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate the state or act of rejecting something. It adds emphasis to the act of rejecting, as seen in Ludwig's examples such as, "Failure to comply will result in refusal of entry..." or "...mother and daughter both 'exercised power in refusal'."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in refusal" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to denote the state of rejecting something, often with a degree of formality. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English, although it might sound somewhat formal in casual conversation. Common contexts include News & Media, Science, and Academia. When writing, be mindful of simpler alternatives like "rejecting" or "declining" to avoid sounding stilted, and reserve "in refusal" for situations where you wish to emphasize the act of rejection. In legal contexts, the phrase may be preferred to signal a documented rejection.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not accepting

Emphasizes the lack of acceptance, rather than the act of refusing.

rejecting

Focuses on the act of rejection, without the prepositional context.

declining

Offers a more formal and polite way of expressing rejection.

in resistance to

Emphasizes active opposition and struggle against something, unlike a simple refusal.

turning down

Presents an informal way to express rejection, mainly in spoken language.

in opposition to

Suggests a stance against something, highlighting disagreement rather than direct refusal.

in defiance of

Implies a bold and often public act of resistance or disobedience, differing from quiet refusal.

in denial

Implies a psychological rejection of reality, rather than a deliberate act of refusing something specific.

opting out of

Highlights the choice to not participate, instead of directly refusing.

withstanding

Indicates resisting or enduring, often under pressure, unlike simply refusing.

FAQs

How can I use "in refusal" in a sentence?

"In refusal" is used to indicate a state or act of rejecting something. For example, "The board remained "in refusal" of the proposed merger."

What can I say instead of "in refusal"?

Alternatives to "in refusal" include "rejecting", "declining", or "not accepting", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "in refusal of" or "refusing"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "refusing" is often more concise and direct. "In refusal of" may be preferred in formal or legal contexts where a more emphatic tone is desired.

What's the difference between "in rejection" and "in refusal"?

"In rejection" generally refers to the state of being rejected, whereas "in refusal" emphasizes the act of refusing. For example, a proposal might be "in rejection", while a person might be ""in refusal"" of an offer.