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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
He was confirmed 99-0 for secretary of state in the Senate, while some of Trump’s other Cabinet nominees barely scraped by or were rejected altogether. Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2025 In Los Angeles on Wednesday, a U.S. District Court judge, Otis D. Wright II, rejected that request, saying neither prosecutors nor Mr. Smirnov’s lawyers had presented any evidence that Mr. Smirnov was any less of a flight risk than when he was arrested. Devlin Barrett, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Noun
Instead of letting the weird baking mixes or seasonings go to waste, team up with your partner or roommates and make an Iron Chef style meal of the rejects. Grace McCarty, SELF, 28 Dec. 2024 Led by the foul-mouthed and fouler-smelling Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), the team of rejects consists of River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung), Louisa Guy (Rosalind Eleazar) and Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) among others including newcomer, J.K. Coe (Thomas Brooke). Erik Kain, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for reject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reject
Verb
  • When one player refused and wanted to take a photo of the statement, the player was allegedly denied a chance and warned ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi would find out about his response.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 May 2025
  • Both have also been vocally critical of giving more military and financial assistance to Ukraine and have previously threatened refused to back the EU’s regular extensions of sanctions against Russia.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Verb
  • The state also was denied an emergency order to block Musk’s exercise of sweeping power over the federal budget.
    Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • In January, Iverson was denied qualified immunity by a federal judge for the shooting.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Check your kitchen for these foods, and discard or return them.
    Jenna Anderson, Health, 2 May 2025
  • Redditor accidentally reinvents discarded ’90s tool to escape today’s age gates 3.
    Benj Edwards, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • More: Trump cannot use Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans, judge rules A federal appeals court on April 18 declined the administration's request to pause the judge's order.
    Andrew Chung and John Kruzel, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Officials declined to disclose details of the vehicle, but the plant mostly produces Mercedes-Benz SUVs.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • In the trailer, Wednesday returns for a second year at Nevermore Academy, a private school for outcasts.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
  • For Firestone’s outcasts, fashion—and physical appearance in general—takes on world-shattering importance.
    Audrey Wollen, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Largely unknown, with few public remarks, Souter was considered a politically palatable choice as the contentious Senate rejection of Reagan nominee Robert Bork three years earlier still rattled Washington.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 10 May 2025
  • Out of the 60,000 babies born in New Zealand last year, there were 71 rejections, according to an Official Information Act inquiry.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • San Francisco Giants Ryan Walker was named the closer by Bob Melvin, which carries weight in considering roles going forward since there has been no comment refuting his role.
    Greg Jewett, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • Unsurprisingly, Postecoglou refutes any suggestion that his team doesn’t have the same faith.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Bob Baffert had horse racing's problems dumped on his reputation.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Chelsea’s players were understandably deflated after Sunday’s 8-2 aggregate hammering by Barcelona, which dumped them out of the Champions League semi-finals.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 1 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reject. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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