BALK (AT) Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

balk (at)

verb

Definition of balk (at)

as in to refuse

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to she balked at lending him any more money

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for balk (at)

Verb

The report said Evans first refused to give officers his name and then spit into one officer's face after being taken into custody.

— Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

Metcalf credits his unusual durability with an unusual ability to reject himself.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In 2024, the court rejected an emergency request from Nicaragua to order Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel in Gaza, but the 16-judge panel declined to throw out the case altogether.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of reject

Verb

In recent weeks, new cases and deaths have declined in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, but risen sharply in neighboring North Kivu and Haut-Uele, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at a weekly briefing.

— JEAN-YVES KAMALE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
Headen declined to claim responsibility for any of the posts.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

The game featured a fourth-quarter comeback by Mizzou and a Tigers fan passing up a chance to win $25k to troll the Jayhawks instead.

— Justin Williams, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The opportunity to move into the former Optica Lopez building was something that the El Fresco team could not pass up.

— Natu Tweh, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of pass up

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Browse Nearby Words

balkanized

balk (at)

balked

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“Balk (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balk%20%28at%29. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of balk (at)

verb

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