as in refuses
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 balks (at)
Verb
-
In the nation’s fastest-gentrifying city, Black DC refuses quiet erasure.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026 -
The seat is open, but no election has been called, not because the people didn’t care, but because the governor refuses to act.—
Daryl Campbell,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Apparently, if eBay’s board rejects the offer, Cohen is reportedly willing to take it directly to shareholders.—
Josh Brown and Sean Russo,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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If the Supreme Court rejects the administration’s argument, Venezuelans, Haitians, and other TPS beneficiaries could use it to continue arguing for their protections in court.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When a security system declines a valid purchase, the customer often abandons the cart and moves to a competitor.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
Distribution revenue was $858 million as vs $870 million on net subscriber declines.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Balks (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balks%20%28at%29. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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