as in rejected
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
fiercely independent, the elderly couple spurned all offers of financial help
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Recent Examples of spurned
In a flurry of rapid-fire votes, most Senate Republicans spurned a group of measures Democrats said would lower everyday costs for Americans while separately moving to approve $70 billion for immigration enforcement.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
However, four of the signatories spurned the agreement and resumed fighting after the 2021 army takeover.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The two women haven’t spoken in 10 years when Mother Mary shows up on Sam Anselm’s doorstep with sad eyes and stringy hair, like a lost dog who got caught in the rain, and her spurned BFF leaps at the chance to make the most of her leverage.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Hiller spurned Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee to join a program in need of talent up front during first-year head coach Jon Sumrall’s rebuild.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
According to the student paper, Welsh became extremely popular and spurned the advances of the men on campus.
—Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
In a case of serious schadenfreude, the player left on the Carolina trash heap earned most outstanding player honors, courtesy of 19 points, two assists and one turnover, on the same day that his old school finally found a new head coach – having been spurned by, among others, his current coach.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Against Fulham, Ola Aina was only denied by the bar, Dan Ndoye had a goal chalked off for possibly the tightest VAR call that has been conjured up yet and Taiwo Awoniyi and Elliot Anderson spurned decent chances.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Police are investigating it as an overdose, spurned by the mistaken purchase of fentanyl instead of a different white powdery substance.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
However, four of the signatories spurned the agreement and resumed fighting after the 2021 army takeover.
—ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
The two women haven’t spoken in 10 years when Mother Mary shows up on Sam Anselm’s doorstep with sad eyes and stringy hair, like a lost dog who got caught in the rain, and her spurned BFF leaps at the chance to make the most of her leverage.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026
The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Hiller spurned Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee to join a program in need of talent up front during first-year head coach Jon Sumrall’s rebuild.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026
According to the student paper, Welsh became extremely popular and spurned the advances of the men on campus.
—Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
In a case of serious schadenfreude, the player left on the Carolina trash heap earned most outstanding player honors, courtesy of 19 points, two assists and one turnover, on the same day that his old school finally found a new head coach – having been spurned by, among others, his current coach.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Against Fulham, Ola Aina was only denied by the bar, Dan Ndoye had a goal chalked off for possibly the tightest VAR call that has been conjured up yet and Taiwo Awoniyi and Elliot Anderson spurned decent chances.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Police are investigating it as an overdose, spurned by the mistaken purchase of fentanyl instead of a different white powdery substance.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurned
Verb
-
While Raman portrayed herself as the focus of attacks from both opponents, Bass’ campaign rejected that framing as a distraction from her debate performance and City Council record.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
-
Last year, the governor rejected the legislation banning algorithms that had been used to hike rent prices in Denver and elsewhere, despite a letter from the House Democratic caucus urging him to sign it.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Verb
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During the last art Biennale, Israel’s participating artist Ruth Patir refused to open the show at the national Pavilion, saying the doors would remain shut until a hostage agreement and ceasefire deal in Gaza were reached.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
But the reserves refused to cooperate with that notion.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
After 16 years of one-party rule, the cost of living has been driven out of reach for working families, and quality of life has declined in too many communities.—
Steve Hilton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Seton Hall did more with less under Shaheen Holloway, but didn’t collect enough strong wins outside of the conference to flip onto the right side of the March Madness bubble and declined any other postseason invitations.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Despite wooden signs prohibiting people reserving sun loungers with towels and then leaving them, the father-of-two said guests routinely ignored the warning.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
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To some, the data centers are an inevitable part of our future and an economic opportunity that can’t be ignored as the global AI race accelerates.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spurned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurned. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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