reject 1 of 2

Definition of rejectnext
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reject

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noun

1
as in outcast
one who is cast out or rejected by society was the school reject as a child and has low self-esteem even today

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in discard
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others that apple has a mushy spot on it, so it's a reject

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reject different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of reject are decline, refuse, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When might decline be a better fit than reject?

While in some cases nearly identical to reject, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When would refuse be a good substitute for reject?

The words refuse and reject are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When could repudiate be used to replace reject?

The meanings of repudiate and reject largely overlap; however, repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

When is it sensible to use spurn instead of reject?

Although the words spurn and reject have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reject
Verb
Ambassador Ali Bahreini rejected that suggestion on Tuesday, however, echoing a statement from the country's foreign ministry spokesman. Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 23 June 2026 While rejecting many of the report’s findings, the county agreed with recommendations calling for improvements to county programs, procedures, training, coordination and oversight, saying work on those efforts is already underway. Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026
Noun
At first glance, the collection seemed to be a paean to rejects. Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026 These days, the aviary houses parakeets that are mostly rejects from friends whose kids got bored with them. Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reject
Verb
  • While prosecution witnesses have refused to delineate between the Lachman and Palisades blazes, Haney has repeatedly described them as two distinct incidents that ignited days apart.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
  • After a May debate, Smullen refused to shake his opponent's hand.
    Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • That agreement set a 60-day period for negotiations on key issues, including the future of Tehran’s nuclear program amid concerns that Iran wants to use it for military purposes, a claim the country denies.
    Ben Finley, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
  • Pitt's request for possible sanctions, or monetary fines, in the legal proceeding was denied, per court documents.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Inspectors stopped food preparation immediately and tomato soup prepared with the brown water was discarded.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2026
  • The council also ordered up a measure doubling the amount of money allocated for the Department of Recreation and Parks, discarding an alternative plan that would have increased it by 50%.
    Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • With only a week of freedom under his belt, Cribbs said Powell is declining interviews for now, reentering the world with some trepidation.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • The Padres declined comment for this column.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • As a child, Aemond is rebellious, an outcast and does not get along well with Rhaenyra’s children, who are of a similar age.
    Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • The musical is also narrated by Damian and Janis, the school outcasts who Cady befriends on her first day.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • This finding specifically held true for people with fearful and preoccupied attachment styles, two subtypes of insecure attachment associated with a craving for intimacy but, respectively, a deep fear of it or a fear of rejection and abandonment.
    Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 20 June 2026
  • Someone with anxious attachment may worry about rejection, seek excessive reassurance or feel uncertain about the stability of relationships.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Two other retired judges later published their own piece refuting Gilliard’s contention.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
  • Fortunately, video replay allows people to validate—or refute—a referee’s decision.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Plum Island beaches in Newburyport, Massachusetts are closed after 60,000 gallons of wastewater were accidentally dumped into the Merrimack River on Thursday.
    Neal Riley, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • By the end of the debate, about 150 men dressed in Indigenous costumes, their faces smeared with soot, stormed to a nearby wharf and dumped a literal boatload of tea into the water.
    Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Reject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reject. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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