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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In a world of cynicism, Logano refuses to fall in line.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025 -
Hold on to the laughter, hold on to the sparkle, hold on to that spark deep inside that refuses to go out.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The business software maker on Wednesday unveiled an optimistic, multiyear financial roadmap that rejects the sluggish-growth narrative that has been dogging the stock.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
16 Oct. 2025
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The White House rejects the suggestion that any of the president's social media posts have been racist.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Overall, the most prevalent cause of bird population declines is habitat loss and degradation, driven especially by agricultural expansion and intensification and logging, the IUCN said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
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Prices up 2% but concessions show declines, especially condos (-11%).—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
18 Oct. 2025
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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 22 Oct. 2025.
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