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)
Verb
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But the union filed a lawsuit in November 2023, alleging that the tribe had refused to select an arbitrator to conduct the card-counting process.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025 -
One teen said Scarr routinely pressured him for oral sex, including in the sanctuary, and threatened to kill himself if the boy refused.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The 2023 edition opened a month later as Israel intensified its bombing campaign on Gaza, which has since killed more than 67,000 people, injured another 170,000 and razed the Palestinian territory to the ground, prompting accusations of genocide, which Israel has strongly rejected.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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Wyden’s aide rejected outright the concept that the Finance Committee lacks proper jurisdiction.—
Kevin Fixler,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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No Buffett, no premium Since Warren Buffett announced his retirement from Berkshire Hathaway its stock has declined 11% in a period when the S&P 500 rose 20%.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
31 Oct. 2025
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Baldwin’s lawyers declined to comment on Kenney’s suit.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Another agent pointed to how contractions in post-strike, post-pandemic Hollywood have decimated the theater business, creating new opportunities that Netflix would be foolish to pass up.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
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At just $18, this faux leather tote is a steal too good to pass up.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Balk (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk%20%28at%29. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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