as in refused
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
I must pass up the offer to be chairman of this event
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of passed up
The first time Helena Morrissey had a child, she was passed up for a promotion.
—
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
McAtamney’s lack of field goal range also played a part in this game because the Giants passed up attempts.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The Oilers passed up countless quality chances at five-on-five and were seldom around the blue paint against the Devils.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The year before, she had been passed up for the lead role in the movie adaptation of My Fair Lady, which went to Audrey Hepburn, pictured.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
On both plays, Maye passed up safer choices — taking a sack and a checkdown — to scramble; chasing the type of extended play that had just rewarded him, but ultimately burned his team.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Over one in ten report being passed up for a promotion or chance to get ahead because of their age.
—Helen Dennis, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Silksong just passed up yesterday’s 562,000 concurrent Steam playercount record, a stunning number for a $20 indie game, though obviously boosted by its mythological status after seven years of waiting from fans.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
He was passed up by most every FBS program coming out of Greenville High in Texas.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
McAtamney’s lack of field goal range also played a part in this game because the Giants passed up attempts.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The Oilers passed up countless quality chances at five-on-five and were seldom around the blue paint against the Devils.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The year before, she had been passed up for the lead role in the movie adaptation of My Fair Lady, which went to Audrey Hepburn, pictured.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
On both plays, Maye passed up safer choices — taking a sack and a checkdown — to scramble; chasing the type of extended play that had just rewarded him, but ultimately burned his team.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Over one in ten report being passed up for a promotion or chance to get ahead because of their age.
—Helen Dennis, Oc Register, 14 Sep. 2025
Silksong just passed up yesterday’s 562,000 concurrent Steam playercount record, a stunning number for a $20 indie game, though obviously boosted by its mythological status after seven years of waiting from fans.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
He was passed up by most every FBS program coming out of Greenville High in Texas.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passed up
Verb
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But Barakat refused to let his team go down on senior night, driving to the basket and scoring with three seconds remaining to force OT.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Two others refused medical treatment, Livengood said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Tehran has rejected those accusations and said the cases involved legitimate security concerns.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Earlier this legislative session, a committee rejected a 50-year sales exemption for data center purchases of equipment and software.—
Makenzie Huber,
States Newsroom,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Trump has also, thus far, declined meeting Pahlavi, who has lived in Washington since his family’s exile in 1979.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
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Meanwhile, pathways responsible for synthesizing certain B vitamins declined, suggesting the community was reallocating its biochemical resources rather than simply increasing activity across the board.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As local Fox affiliate WPMT reports, Mervin Raudabaugh, who has farmed the surrounding land for more than 60 years, turned down more than $15 million from data center developers in a package deal that involved three neighboring property owners as well.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
19 Feb. 2026
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That might explain why 90% of denial appeals in Florida are turned down.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On third-and-7, Fields threw over the middle to receiver Josh Reynolds for 6 yards, short of the first-down marker.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Though Brock Purdy threw over 300 yards in his return from injury, the Jaguars' defense caused five turnovers, including a strip sack that sealed the game in the fourth quarter.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Though Vedam fought the conviction for decades, almost 40 years passed before a team of attorneys discovered prosecutors may have withheld evidence that could have impacted the jury’s decision in his case.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Hall passed First-year Auburn Coach Steven Pearl is being tested on a couple of fronts as the Tigers near the stretch run.—
Tom Murphy,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Though panned by critics and ignored by the public, the movie shows the struggles of a boy born on Mars to one of the first colonists.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Feb. 2026
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The Cuban government has ignored urgent warnings from doctors and political analysts about the dire situation.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated February 19,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passed up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passed%20up. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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