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
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Cutting Through Rocks is an intimate portrait of Shahverdi's fight for women's rights in a patriarchal society that refuses to acknowledge their right to exist safely and independently.—
Davi Merchan,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026 -
At the same time, his office refuses to answer questions about the probe.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This trend rejects rigidity in favor of free-form seating that doesn't box users in and force them into prescribed spots.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
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The president’s war on Iran is contrary to the Constitution and rejects safeguards in our republican federation.—
William J Watkins Jr,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dolci declines to speculate on root causes, but is at pains to note that Imax has proven more resilient than the broader market, holding largely flat while the industry overall has taken a dip.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
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The chain, known for its soups, salads and sandwiches, is in the early stages of a turnaround, with a focus on reinvesting in its business and reversing years of traffic declines.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 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 8 Mar. 2026.
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