spurn 1 of 2

verb

ˈspərn How to pronounce spurn (audio)
Definition of spurnnext
as in to refuse
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to fiercely independent, the elderly couple spurned all offers of financial help

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spurn

2 of 2

noun

as in refusal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word spurn different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of spurn are decline, refuse, reject, and repudiate. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

Where would decline be a reasonable alternative to spurn?

In some situations, the words decline and spurn are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When could refuse be used to replace spurn?

The words refuse and spurn are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When would reject be a good substitute for spurn?

The synonyms reject and spurn are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When might repudiate be a better fit than spurn?

The meanings of repudiate and spurn largely overlap; however, repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spurn
Verb
Respondents who expected a provisional truce or war believe that Israelis and Palestinians will not reach a permanent peace either because the concessions needed are spurned by the opposing side or are too painful to contemplate by one or both sides. — Scott Atran, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2025 Many high-end chocolatiers use fresh fruit or nuts, and spurn preservatives that might compromise flavor or texture. — Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 15 Feb. 2025 All in all, 12 team-mates have spurned opportunities generated by his passes in the last three months, detailed in the graphic below: Nicolas Jackson, amid an eight-game scoring drought in the Premier League, is unsurprisingly the biggest culprit. — Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025 Zelensky previously spurned Trump's discussions of how to achieve peace, saying Trump's approach could lead to a ceasefire agreement that undermined Ukraine's territorial integrity. — Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spurn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurn
  1. refuse
  2. refusal
  3. reject
  4. decline
  5. repudiation
  6. repulse
Verb
  • In hearings at the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove Mr. Yoon from office, both Lieutenant General Lee and Lieutenant General Yeo refused to discuss details of their roles for fear that their testimony would be used against them during their own criminal trials.
    — Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
  • In response, the woman not only refused to bake a cake this year but also skipped the party altogether.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of refuse
Noun
  • The refusal to leave immigrants, trans kids, pregnant people or other vulnerable groups behind.
    — Aparna Rae, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Why did the ceasefire break down? Both Israel and the Trump administration have blamed Hamas for the resumption of hostilities, citing the militant group's refusal to meet Israel's demand to release more hostages in return for the resumption of talks.
    — Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of refusal
Verb
  • Gaga rejects a string of Latin suitors — Alejandro, Fernando, Roberto — via melodies that evoke ABBA and Madonna, over a thumping beat, like Ace of Base gone EDM.
    — Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The Florida Supreme Court and a federal appeals court each rejected appeals to delay James' execution.
    — Landon Mion, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of reject
Verb
  • An Interior Department spokesperson declined to comment on personnel matters.
    — Ella Nilsen, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Representatives for Boeing declined to comment on the matter.
    — Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of decline
Noun
  • The concern about the bank’s future is heightened as the second Trump administration doubles down on its repudiation of climate projects and promotes an accelerated expansion of U.S. oil and gas projects.
    — Max Bearak, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
  • America’s repudiation of its traditional foreign policy is being driven by both Trump’s particular obsessions and wider geopolitical changes.
    — Stephen Collinson, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of repudiation
Noun
  • Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it.
    — Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level.
    — Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
Definition of repulse

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Cite this Entry

“Spurn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurn. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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