balked (at)

verb

past tense of balk (at)
as in refused
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 balked (at)
  1. refused
  2. rejected
  3. declined
Verb
  • Starlink’s satellite internet has launched in around two dozen other African countries, but Musk has refused to follow South Africa’s affirmative action regulations.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Jay Clayton refused to acknowledge Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election during his confirmation hearing to become director of national intelligence.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of refused
Verb
  • The Senate, the upper house where conservatives hold a majority, rejected the bill.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
  • Born in 1946 amid the bombing of Frankfurt, Ruppert instead developed a psychosexual cosmology that rejected neat distinctions between prey and predator.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • The firm declined to share Henderson’s declaration, citing a confidentiality agreement.
    — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • Attorneys for the defendants have denied the allegations in court, and MetroLoft declined to comment on the pending litigation on Thursday.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of declined
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

balked
balked (at)
balkiness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balked (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked%20%28at%29. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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