refuse to believe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refuse to believe" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone is unwilling to accept an opinion or belief, for example: "Despite the overwhelming evidence, he continued to refuse to believe that climate change is real."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

I refuse to believe it.

The New York Times

They refuse to believe.

The New York Times - Sports

"I refuse to believe that.

The New York Times

I refuse to believe otherwise".

The New York Times

His critics refuse to believe it.

The Guardian

But the members of this movement refuse to believe it.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Noura refused to believe it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Most refused to believe him.

The New Yorker

In fact, I refused to believe it".

The New Yorker

"They refused to believe she was homeless.

The New York Times

I refused to believe it would happen.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refuse to believe", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being disbelieved. Providing a reason, even if implicit, strengthens the statement and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

While "refuse to believe" is acceptable, overusing it can sound repetitive or informal in professional writing. Use "decline to accept" or "remain unconvinced" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refuse to believe" functions as a declarative expression, conveying a strong sense of disbelief or rejection of a particular idea or statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "refuse to believe" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to convey strong disbelief or rejection. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. As shown by Ludwig examples from varied sources, from News & Media to Science and Wiki, it is a versatile expression. While appropriate for many situations, more formal contexts might benefit from alternatives like "decline to accept". The phrase demonstrates consistent usage across various contexts, indicating its reliability in expressing a firm stance of disbelief.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline to accept

This alternative replaces "believe" with "accept", indicating a rejection of an idea or fact.

am unwilling to accept

This alternative emphasizes the unwillingness to embrace or consider something as true.

cannot accept

This alternative changes "refuse" to "cannot", suggesting an inability to believe rather than a conscious choice.

remain unconvinced

This phrase emphasizes the lack of persuasion, implying that one has not been convinced of something's truth.

doubt the truth

This alternative concentrates on questioning the veracity of something, rather than outright disbelief.

find it hard to believe

This phrase indicates difficulty in accepting something as true, rather than a direct refusal.

am skeptical of

This alternative indicates a questioning attitude, implying doubt and a need for evidence before believing.

reject the notion

This alternative uses the stronger term "reject" and specifies "notion" indicating a firm dismissal of an idea.

cannot swallow that

This phrase uses a metaphorical expression to convey strong disbelief, implying something is very difficult to accept.

discredit the idea

This phrase shifts the focus to actively disproving or undermining a concept rather than merely disbelieving.

FAQs

How can I use "refuse to believe" in a sentence?

Use "refuse to believe" to express a strong disbelief or unwillingness to accept something as true. For example, "I refuse to believe that he would betray us."

What's a more formal alternative to "refuse to believe"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives such as "decline to accept" or "remain unconvinced" for a more professional tone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "refuse to believing"?

No, "refuse to believing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "refuse to believe", where "believe" is the base form of the verb.

What is the difference between "refuse to believe" and "difficult to believe"?

"Refuse to believe" indicates a deliberate unwillingness to accept something, while "difficult to believe" simply suggests that something is hard to accept as true, regardless of personal willingness.