openly refuse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "openly refuse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone is rejecting or declining something in a transparent or public manner. Example: "During the meeting, she openly refused to accept the proposed changes to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Most real estate companies openly refuse to take foreign clients.

The New York Times

Cuthbert continued to openly refuse to turn over the dogs as ordered.

Vice

Religious freedom laws, such as those enacted in Indiana, Mississippi and North Carolina, serve to strengthen the rights of businesses to openly refuse to serve homosexuals without fear of prosecution, under the guise of strengthening First Amendment protections on freedom of religion.

Huffington Post

A spokeswoman for Focus on the Family declined to comment, but pointed to a colleague's recent blog post lamenting that the president of a Christian college has been "bullied" for urging Obama to let religiously affiliated institutions with federal contracts openly refuse to hire someone because he or she is LGBT.

Huffington Post

Moreover, among patients who do not openly refuse to accept their antipsychotic medication, many are only partially adherent [ 4].

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Leaders who openly refused to cooperate in delivering their own people to concentration camps soon paid with their lives.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr Kim, meanwhile, is in hiding, blamed by many in South Korea for getting Kia into such a mess and for openly refusing to go when his time was up.

The Economist

The E.P.A. took the unprecedented step of announcing it would directly issue permits to Texas industries after the state openly refused to comply with the regulations.

The New York Times

In and around the towns of Schwandorf, Coburg, and Burgkirchen, each of which contains an incinerator, some waste authorities have openly refused to separate organic waste for composting, he said, instead incinerating the material at a lower cost.

The Guardian

The Home Office says that to have two reports about drugs out at the same time might confuse the public, and for this reason it is going to keep its report under wraps.This is believed to be the first time that a public body has openly refused to release information in order to manage the news better.

The Economist

A number of councils, including Bradford, openly refused the request for reasons including fears over sensitive data or a lack of time and although 30 councils missed Pickles' 31 January deadline, Nottingham is the only council which has still refused to publish the information.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "openly refuse" when you want to emphasize that the refusal is not hidden or secretive, but rather done in a transparent and public manner. This often implies a deliberate or principled stance.

Common error

While "openly refuse" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or dramatic in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "directly decline" or "publicly reject" for everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "openly refuse" functions as a verb phrase where "openly" modifies the verb "refuse", indicating the manner in which the refusal is carried out. This construction emphasizes the transparency and lack of concealment in the act of refusal. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "openly refuse" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a rejection or denial that is conducted transparently and without concealment. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability, though its frequency is relatively rare. It commonly appears in news and media, science, and encyclopedia contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, be mindful of the formality it conveys, and consider alternatives like "explicitly decline" or "publicly deny" for different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blatantly reject

Emphasizes a more defiant and obvious form of refusal.

explicitly decline

Highlights the clarity and directness of the refusal.

publicly deny

Focuses on the act of refusing being done in a public setting.

unequivocally reject

Stresses the absence of doubt or reservation in the refusal.

forthrightly refuse

Implies a refusal that is direct and honest.

pointedly decline

Indicates a refusal made with deliberate emphasis.

flatly reject

Suggests a refusal that is firm and without compromise.

categorically deny

Highlights a complete and unambiguous denial.

boldly turn down

Emphasizes the courage or audacity in refusing.

definitively reject

Implies a final and conclusive refusal.

FAQs

What does "openly refuse" mean?

"Openly refuse" means to decline or reject something in a way that is not hidden or secret, but rather done publicly and transparently.

How to use "openly refuse" in a sentence?

You can use "openly refuse" in a sentence like: "The organization "openly refused" to comply with the new regulations."

What can I say instead of "openly refuse"?

You can use alternatives like "blatantly reject", "explicitly decline", or "publicly deny" depending on the context.

Is "openly refuse" formal or informal?

"Openly refuse" tends to be more formal than alternatives like "decline" or "reject". Its use often implies a deliberate and public stance.