refusenik

/rɪˈfjuznɪk/
noun
  1. A person who refuses to do something, especially as a form of protest or because of strong personal beliefs.
    • The company's new policy turned several employees into refuseniks who would not comply.
    • During the war, he became a refusenik and would not serve in the military.
    • She was known as a refusenik for always rejecting invitations to corporate events.
  2. Historically, a person in the Soviet Union who was denied permission to emigrate, especially to Israel, and who protested this denial.
    • The refusenik movement drew international attention to human rights issues.
    • After years as a refusenik, he finally received permission to leave the country.
    • Many refuseniks in the 1970s faced harassment from the government.
Antonyms