as in rejected
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 spurned
Trump has spurned Zelenskyy’s offer of help for the United States and its Persian Gulf partners in fighting Iranian drones.
—
ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Police are investigating it as an overdose, spurned by the mistaken purchase of fentanyl instead of a different white powdery substance.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
China has looked to woo regional powers spurned by Washington’s protectionist turn.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
The film is a Southern gothic dysfunctional family drama in which Duvall played a father who was spurned by a wife who remarried and moved to England.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
Neguse took a different tack, highlighting other ways the Bondi has spurned justice.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Official Hollywood posters, especially in the Reagan years, were spurned in favor of surreal homegrown imagery, most of it only obliquely connected to the movies in question.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
The darker strands of the young Tennyson’s existence—madness, spurned love, ruinous genes, insolvency—would become the themes of a later poem that Holmes regards as pivotal.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Kaoru Mitoma also spurned a good opportunity in the opening quarter of the contest, slotting wide of the far post after exchanging passes with Welbeck.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Police are investigating it as an overdose, spurned by the mistaken purchase of fentanyl instead of a different white powdery substance.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
China has looked to woo regional powers spurned by Washington’s protectionist turn.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
The film is a Southern gothic dysfunctional family drama in which Duvall played a father who was spurned by a wife who remarried and moved to England.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2026
Neguse took a different tack, highlighting other ways the Bondi has spurned justice.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Official Hollywood posters, especially in the Reagan years, were spurned in favor of surreal homegrown imagery, most of it only obliquely connected to the movies in question.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
The darker strands of the young Tennyson’s existence—madness, spurned love, ruinous genes, insolvency—would become the themes of a later poem that Holmes regards as pivotal.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Kaoru Mitoma also spurned a good opportunity in the opening quarter of the contest, slotting wide of the far post after exchanging passes with Welbeck.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurned
Verb
-
Tobolowsky previously rejected motions from other Gateway elders, ruling that the suit was not a religious issue and could be handled in secular court.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
My first preference was always the path of diplomacy, yet the regime continued their relentless quest for nuclear weapons and rejected every attempt at an agreement.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the process, the Bulls refused to shut down players such as center Jalen Smith, who finally was shut down for the season this week after reaggravating a calf injury once again in Wednesday’s game.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The woman refused any more information and was placed in the women’s ward.—
Kevin Foster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
All of the candidates would be newcomers to the board, since incumbents Denise Fears and Blake Roberson declined to run.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Uber declined to comment on its latest entry into the autonomous vehicle market.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ames is one of thousands of women who have felt ignored by medical professionals.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Since ancient times, athletes have often ignored the rules in their quest for glory.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurned. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
