Refuse and Withhold

Refuse

Refuse verb - To be unwilling to grant.
Usage example: the reclusive movie star usually refuses requests for interviews

Withhold is a synonym for refuse in deny topic. In some cases you can use "Withhold" instead a verb "Refuse", when it comes to topics like accept, disown. popular alternative

Nearby Words: refused, refusal, refusing, refuser

Withhold

Withhold verb - To be unwilling to grant.
Usage example: must withhold official approval until all the proper forms have been submitted

Refuse is a synonym for withhold in deny topic. You can use "Refuse" instead a verb "Withhold", if it concerns topics such as action, accept, disown, keep back. popular alternative

Nearby Word: withholding

Common collocations

help refuse help withhold help
sex refuse sex withhold sex
treatment refuse treatment withhold treatment
payment refuse payment withhold payment
Other words: deal, time, money, food, cure, access, side.

Both words in one sentence

  • They refuse to work together, they run off by themselves in secret (repeatedly), they almost never ask for help, and even those that *should* trust one another withhold secrets for no good reason.
  • Truth Serums He can, however, withhold information and refuse to answer questions.
    Source: Truth Serums
Cite this Source
Withhold and Refuse. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/refuse/withhold
Refuse & Withhold. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/refuse/withhold>.
Withhold or Refuse. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/refuse/withhold.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "refuse" and "withhold" have occurred on timeline