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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in refusal
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Recent Examples of spurn
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Founded in 2008, Groupon, which once spurned a $6 billion takeover offer from Google on its way to a $25 billion valuation, has fallen in recent years to a fraction of its previous worth amid sharp revenue declines.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
For example, according to The Athletic, Vancouver Whitecaps signing Thomas Müller spurned FC Cincinnati because of concerns he’d be turned into a marketing machine with the city’s German-American community, and instead opted for a club where the main focus would be on the field.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The heat spurned wildfires that continue to blaze, and has been linked to more than 1,000 deaths.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurn
Noun
After spurning offers from such interested parties as maitre d’ Craig Susser — who opened his own namesake restaurant in 2011 — Tana sold Dan Tana’s in 2009 to friend Sonja Perencevic, who still runs it.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Founded in 2008, Groupon, which once spurned a $6 billion takeover offer from Google on its way to a $25 billion valuation, has fallen in recent years to a fraction of its previous worth amid sharp revenue declines.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
For example, according to The Athletic, Vancouver Whitecaps signing Thomas Müller spurned FC Cincinnati because of concerns he’d be turned into a marketing machine with the city’s German-American community, and instead opted for a club where the main focus would be on the field.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The heat spurned wildfires that continue to blaze, and has been linked to more than 1,000 deaths.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurn
Verb
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During one heated exchange, immigration agents who did not want to be captured on body camera footage refused to invite FBI agents along for an arrest operation, one of the sources said.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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According to Film Workers for Palestine, the pledge was inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, a group founded by high-profile directors such as Jonathan Demme and Martin Scorsese, which demanded that the film industry refuse to distribute work in South Africa.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Emerson found the transfer retaliatory and said Philip’s refusal was protected under California labor law.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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Anything from Hamas’s refusal to accept terms of transitional period, completely disarming, or a violent incident could become a pretext to violate the ceasefire.—
Shibley Telhami,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The council had already rejected Allied once before, months earlier, over settlements — including back wages — that the company has had to pay out to current and former employees.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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Teachers, students, and parents alike rejected the $850 million effort.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
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There was a unilateral rebuff toward the idea that the industry is experiencing a drummer shortage in general.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hoyer declined to speculate on whether the major-league payroll would receive a boost after Wrigley Field hosted two playoff rounds.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The sentiment has affected Gulf IPOs, which are expected to decline to their lowest level since 2021.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If Helmy finds in the Party the kind of fellowship and outlet for his energies that a good career might otherwise have satisfied, Erich embraces his new identity with a snarling brutality that is a repudiation of his former sense of humiliation.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
19 Aug. 2025
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And to be fair, most of the departures weren’t a repudiation of Amador’s appointment.—
David Lyman,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Spurn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurn. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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