say no

idiom

: to say that one will not accept or agree to something
We requested more time, but she said no.
often + to
She said no to our request.
I never say no to dessert.

Examples of say no in a Sentence

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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.
That’s one of the challenges as a director—I’ll love a location, and then one man or lady will say no. Tamara Southward, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026 Parents hear a reason to say no, and teens like me go quiet. Anamika Shrimali, STAT, 21 Jan. 2026 While the possibility of another strike exists if negotiations fail in the future, both sides say no one wants to repeat what happened. Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026 So much has already been said, but my belief is just keep making the voters say no on Chic. Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for say no

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Cite this Entry

“Say no.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/say%20no. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

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