spurn 1 of 2

spurn

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples of spurn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Latvian immigrant Ed Leedskalnin spent 28 years excavating and carving 1,100 tons of coral rock to prove his eternal devotion to a love who spurned him. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 25 July 2024 Rosen, like Baldwin, was part of a group of Senate Democrats who spurned a Biden White House invite announcing border executive orders in June. Stephen Neukam, Axios, 12 Aug. 2024 Myanmar has spiraled into a devastating civil conflict since the junta’s 2021 coup was overwhelmingly spurned by the people, as the military wages a ruthless war against a nationwide armed resistance determined to oust it from power. Helen Regan, CNN, 2 Aug. 2024 Haynes became a pro with the then-Dallas Texans, spurning the NFL’s Steelers for the new AFL. Bruce Haring, Deadline, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for spurn 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spurn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near spurn

Cite this Entry

“Spurn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurn. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on spurn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!