balking (at)

present participle of balk (at)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balking (at)
Verb
  • Since Saturday, Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, has been camped out in the heart of New Delhi, leading a crowd of protesters who are refusing to leave until the country’s education minister resigns over a national exam system mired in scandal.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Fortunately for the Yankees, Bednar has returned to his All-Star form in recent weeks, refusing to allow a run over 12 innings and 11 games prior to Thursday’s series opener against the Red Sox.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • As its offense gained confidence, Scotland turned away two more Moroccan scoring bids, with Hendry sliding to deflect a Sabiri dangerous shot off the crossbar and Gunn rejecting an El Khannouss header off a corner kick.
    Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 20 June 2026
  • What the Business Roundtable Actually Showed In 2019, the Business Roundtable issued a statement seemingly rejecting shareholder primacy.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • With only a week of freedom under his belt, Cribbs said Powell is declining interviews for now, reentering the world with some trepidation.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Investors must focus on forward-looking changes and a clear path for value realization, understanding that a declining stock isn't safer if its intrinsic value falls faster.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • The Emmys’ producers passing up on even the slightest possibility of a Werner Herzog acceptance speech is sheer lunacy.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026
  • The Supreme Court is staying out of a case about whether the Catholic Church misled parishioners about the purpose of an annual collection, passing up a chance to probe the independence churches have from government interference.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Value your time by turning down unpaid tasks.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026
  • Tips for Reducing Home Cooling Costs To further maximize your energy savings, consider these tips for cooling your home without turning down the AC.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Anthony had a cortisone shot last week and had begun throwing over the weekend.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • Next, a gentle tip-tap rippling through major East Coast cities, as the girls collectively add to cart whatever Holmes is toting or throwing over her shoulders.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2026
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

Cite this Entry

“Balking (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balking%20%28at%29. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster