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)
Verb
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The British newspaper reported that Hockney is believed to have turned down a knighthood on several occasions and is said to have once refused an invitation to paint the late Queen Elizabeth.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026 -
At multiple locations blocks from the Garden, crowds refused numerous verbal commands to disperse, police said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Verb
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In May 2023, Quiñones rejected a call-up to the national team, however, and began playing for Mexico later that year.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
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But initial attempts to send her to Tahiti, a French dependency, about 1,350 miles — or a 30-hour sea journey — from Pitcairn, were rejected by French Polynesian authorities.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Those who declined frequently faced intense criticism from media outlets and activists.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
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Major events such as Hamilton and an Issa Rae show were swiftly canceled, staff departures staggered departments and drained the organization of expertise, and ticket sales drastically declined.—
Janay Kingsberry,
The Atlantic,
6 June 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Balked (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked%20%28at%29. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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