Synonyms of reject

reject 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈjekt 

1

as in to refuse

to be unwilling to grant

rejected his request for time off

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuse
• deny
• decline
• disapprove
• withhold
• disallow
• negative
• forbid
• prohibit
• veto
• restrict
• reprobate
• nix
• keep
• proscribe
• enjoin
• spurn
• ban
• restrain
• repel
• check
• hold
• rebuff
• constrain
• curb
• repress
• hinder
• impede
• obstruct
• balk (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• let
• permit
• allow
• grant
• provide
• concede
• give
• afford
• furnish
• supply
• OK
• authorize
• agree (to)
• license
• warrant
• consent (to)
• acquiesce
• sanction
• commission
• accede (to)
• accord
• assent (to)
• vouchsafe

2

as in to deny

to declare not to be true

I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deny
• refute
• contradict
• disavow
• disallow
• disown
• repudiate
• negate
• disclaim
• disaffirm
• gainsay
• negative
• disconfirm
• disprove
• traverse
• rebut
• challenge
• disagree (with)
• dispute
• confute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• acknowledge
• accept
• allow
• admit
• confirm
• concede
• own
• adopt
• embrace
• submit
• maintain
• claim
• declare
• assert
• affirm
• announce
• avow
• profess
• verify
• espouse
• validate
• substantiate
• aver
• corroborate
• authenticate

3

as in to discard

to get rid of as useless or unwanted

sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discard
• dump
• ditch
• unload
• lose
• abandon
• jettison
• scrap
• remove
• eliminate
• shed
• exorcise
• toss
• dismiss
• chuck
• cast (off)
• junk
• slough (off)
• throw away
• set aside
• dispose of
• shuck (off)
• fling (off or away)
• lay by
• throw out
• sluff (off)
• forsake
• deep-six
• abdicate
• abolish
• eradicate
• pitch
• cashier
• eighty-six
• desert
• kick out
• expunge
• exterminate
• wipe out
• extirpate
• annihilate
• extinguish
• liquidate
• stamp (out)
• root (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adopt
• embrace
• use
• take on
• employ
• utilize
• retain
• hold
• keep
• hold back

4

as in to decline

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

rejected his marriage proposal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuse
• decline
• ignore
• deny
• dismiss
• spurn
• pass
• disapprove
• withdraw
• avoid
• repudiate
• veto
• dispute
• forbid
• pass up
• deselect
• balk (at)
• turn down
• throw over
• negative
• throw out
• nix
• reprobate
• overrule
• renounce
• rebuff
• prohibit
• disdain
• proscribe
• disavow
• revoke
• retract
• scorn
• refute
• contradict
• turn one's back on
• blow off
• scout
• refrain (from)
• disclaim
• gainsay
• forbear
• abjure
• shoot down
• disown
• abstain (from)
• forswear
• recall
• recant
• disprove
• negate
• disallow
• bypass
• take back
• controvert
• stick
• rebut
• disagree (with)
• unsay
• renege
• backtrack
• detour
• back down
• back off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accept
• approve
• agree (to)
• receive
• tolerate
• adopt
• swallow
• take
• embrace
• condone
• welcome
• agree
• acquiesce
• choose
• accede
• select
• countenance
• consent
• assent
• support
• espouse
• handpick

reject

2 of 2

noun

ˈrē-ˌjekt 

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

• outcast
• castoff
• castaway
• pariah
• leper
• exile
• outsider
• offscouring
• untouchable
• deportee

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insider

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

• discard
• rejection
• second
• cull
• rubbish
• trash
• waste
• scrap
• throwaway
• castaway
• white elephant
• hand-me-down

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

Recent Examples of reject

Verb

In its ruling, the 9th Circuit rejected the federal government’s argument that the president’s authority to federalize the Guard was beyond judicial review. — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

More Americans are rejecting everything they’ve been taught about food. — John Hodgman, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

The most opinionated of these rejects is Smarty Pants, a basic toilet-training tech tool given an amusingly snarky attitude by Conan O’Brien. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

Today, there are hundreds of rejects packed in wood cabinets and cardboard boxes. — Steve Hartman, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026