BALKING (AT) Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

balking (at)

verb

present participle of balk (at)

as in refusing

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 balking (at)

Verb

For the first time since at least 1974, new homes are selling for less than existing ones, and the culprit is a mix of builders getting generous and sellers refusing to budge.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Lestat uses his songs to analyze his past while refusing to deal with the ongoing reality of his mother’s emotional manipulation and physical abuse.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026

Definition of refusing

Verb

Additional programmable keys can be assigned to common functions such as push-to-talk, sending prompts, or accepting and rejecting code changes.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
One of these, according to Valdés Ugalde, has been rejecting extradition requests for politicians allegedly linked to drug trafficking on the grounds of national sovereignty.

— Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 12 July 2026

Definition of rejecting

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

Definition of passing up

Verb

Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys said the city has spent four years turning down redevelopment offers for Palmetto Research Park in an effort to hold the property for higher-wage employers.

— John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026
Value your time by turning down unpaid tasks.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

Definition of turning down

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

Definition of throwing over

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balking

balking (at)

balks

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“Balking (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balking%20%28at%29. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of balking (at)

verb

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