rehusarse

Rehusarse is a pronominal Spanish verb meaning to refuse or to balk at doing something, often implying a firm or persistent refusal. It is commonly used to indicate that the subject resists complying with a request, obligation, or proposal.

As a reflexive verb, rehusarse appears with a reflexive pronoun and is typically followed by a phrase such as a preposition + infinitive or a clause. The standard construction is se rehúsa a + infinitive or se rehúsa a + clause, and it can carry a sense of principled stance, stubbornness, or formal refusal. In its non-reflexive form, rehúsar simply means to refuse something (to reject or decline an offer, demand, or proposal).

Conjugation follows regular -ar verb patterns in its reflexive forms. In the present indicative, forms include me rehúso, te rehúsas, se rehúsa, nos rehúsamos, os rehúsáis, se rehúsan. The verb is widely used in Spain and Latin American Spanish, with regional variation in tone and formality. It is often preferred over negar or rechazar when emphasizing a personal or formal refusal to act.

Common uses and nuances include asserting autonomy or resisting pressure, sometimes conveying a sense of ethical or administrative stance. It can appear in legal, political, or organizational contexts, as well as in everyday conversation.

Related verbs include negarse (to decline or deny oneself) and rechazar (to reject). See also synonyms such as negarse a hacer algo or no aceptar una oferta. Rehusarse is typically found in descriptive or evaluative writing, media reports, and formal speech.

Examples:

- El comité se rehúsa a firmar el acuerdo sin aclaraciones.

- Ella se rehúsa a aceptar las condiciones propuestas.

- No se rehúsa a colaborar cuando es necesario.