balk (at)

verb

Definition of balk (at)next
as in to refuse
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to she balked at lending him any more money

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk (at)
  1. refuse
  2. reject
  3. decline
  4. pass up
Verb
  • Since Tuesday's election, he's refused to acknowledge any responsibility, placing blame on the candidates.
    — STEVEN SLOAN, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • All attuned to the issues that concern younger generations, who refuse to be stratified by shopworn political shibboleths.
    — James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of refuse
Verb
  • California voters have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty, first in 2012 and again in 2016, and Newsom’s decision overrides the will of the courts and state laws that permit capital punishment.
    — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Voters, in 2024, narrowly rejected a half-cent local sales tax measure that was estimated to generate about $19 million annually.
    — Victoria Le, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of reject
Verb
  • The researchers found that PIEZO1 levels declined over time in both mouse and human bone.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Indiana Supreme Court declined to intervene Wednesday night.
    — KIM CHANDLER, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • The elk didn’t seem large enough to keep such a large harem to himself, so Snyder decided to pass up the shot.
    — Rich LaRocco, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2026
  • New Yorkers shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to address those failures.
    — Ryder Kessler, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of pass up
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.

Browse Nearby Words

balkanized
balk (at)
balked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balk (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk%20%28at%29. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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