refuses

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refuses" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone is declining to accept, agree to, or comply with something. Example: "She refuses to participate in the project due to her prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She denies this and refuses to answer questions about her, citing confidentiality.

The Guardian

In the letter, Varoufakis also said talks with the troika, although he refuses to use that word, should be resumed "immediately".

The Guardian

Lighting up again, he says that throughout the disintegration of his marriage – with the ex he refuses to name here for reasons of privacy – he maintained his integrity and dignity, "for my children's sake".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Other lines emerged from the SNP's weekend, including deputy leader Stewart Hosie threatening to oppose a minorityLabour government if Ed Miliband refuses to negotiate with the SNP on his first Queen's speech; and the party finally backing Labour's 50p tax rate, though not without contradicting Alex Salmond.

The Guardian

"The justice system, despite the investment in the Criminal Cases Review Commission, still refuses to accept that there are prisoners who are innocent of the crimes they have been convicted of and this comes into conflict with sentence reviews.

The Guardian

5. McNulty v Rawls Another example of the destructive power of personal rivalries – McNulty spends hours tracing tide patterns to relocate a murder into Rawls's district and Rawls refuses (for ages) to let McNulty work proper cases, despite it being his best shot at getting the murder rate down.

The Guardian

Although it refuses to say how many Americans have their communications intercepted without warrants, there can be no question that the NSA does this.

The Guardian - Opinion

But as difficult as Pujan finds it to ply his trade, he refuses to set up his cart in the "hawkers' zone", about 1km away from Dadar railway station.

The Guardian

Without one or both of the nose wings, a car becomes virtually undrivable and refuses to respond as the driver turns the steering wheel.

The Guardian - Sport

The Bombay Parsee Punchayat (which administers Doongerwadi along with the community's fabled trust funds) refuses to allow modern compulsions to compromise tradition.

The Guardian

It refuses to talk even to Sinn Féin, let alone the British or Irish governments, about moves towards any end to its armed campaign.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refuses", ensure the subject clearly indicates who or what is performing the act of refusing. Clarity is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid shifting tense when using "refuses" within a narrative. Maintain consistent tense throughout the sentence and surrounding text to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "refuses" is as a third-person singular present tense verb. It indicates an action being performed by a single subject in the present. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts where a subject is declining to perform an action or accept something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refuses" is a very common and grammatically correct verb form used to express unwillingness or rejection. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's predominantly found in news and media contexts. While synonyms like "declines" or "rejects" offer alternative phrasing, "refuses" maintains a neutral tone suitable for various situations. Remember to maintain consistent tense and ensure clarity regarding the subject performing the action. Understanding its usage patterns and common errors will help you effectively incorporate "refuses" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declines

A more formal synonym that suggests a polite rejection.

rejects

Implies a stronger and more direct refusal.

turns down

An informal way to say no to an offer or request.

rebuffs

Suggests a blunt or abrupt rejection.

turns away

Indicates a rejection of someone or something approaching.

denies

To state that something is not true or to refuse to admit something.

withholds

Refuses to give something that is expected or due.

disallows

Does not permit or allow something.

vetoes

To reject a decision or proposal, often used in a political context.

objects to

Expresses disapproval or opposition.

FAQs

How can I use "refuses" in a sentence?

You can use "refuses" to indicate that someone or something is unwilling to do something. For example, "The witness "refuses" to testify in court."

What are some alternatives to saying "refuses"?

Alternatives include "declines", "rejects", or "turns down", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "refuses" and "rejects"?

"Refuses" implies an unwillingness to do something, while "rejects" implies a stronger, more direct denial. They can often be used interchangeably, but "rejects" carries a more forceful tone.

When is it appropriate to use "refuses" instead of "declines"?

"Declines" is generally more formal and polite. "Refuses" is more neutral and can be used in a wider range of contexts where someone is simply unwilling to do something.