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
The law went into effect in the wake of numerous accusations by American brands and retailers that container shipping giants had spurned service commitments and charged excessive late fees during the Covid-19 pandemic.
—
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
There had been endeavour and creativity from the home side, and also a host of golden chances spurned.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
After being spurned by back-to-back punts, Canales decided to finally test Fitzgerald’s leg with a 55-yard field goal attempt.
—Mike Kaye
september 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025
The clash sees Cliff Curtis’ spurned chieftain Keōua, now high on his own supply as the chosen of the volcano Gods, on the one side; then, Kaina Makua’s reluctant, good-hearted king Kamehameha, and Jason Momoa’s vengeful chief of war Ka’iana on the other.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025
Founded in 2008, Groupon, which once spurned a $6 billion takeover offer from Google on its way to a $25 billion valuation, has fallen in recent years to a fraction of its previous worth amid sharp revenue declines.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
For example, according to The Athletic, Vancouver Whitecaps signing Thomas Müller spurned FC Cincinnati because of concerns he’d be turned into a marketing machine with the city’s German-American community, and instead opted for a club where the main focus would be on the field.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The heat spurned wildfires that continue to blaze, and has been linked to more than 1,000 deaths.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
His 17 years as the school’s head football coach were among the most successful in school history and he was seen as a Wildcat icon, having spurned interest from bigger schools in order to remain with his alma mater.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
There had been endeavour and creativity from the home side, and also a host of golden chances spurned.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
After being spurned by back-to-back punts, Canales decided to finally test Fitzgerald’s leg with a 55-yard field goal attempt.
—Mike Kaye
september 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025
The clash sees Cliff Curtis’ spurned chieftain Keōua, now high on his own supply as the chosen of the volcano Gods, on the one side; then, Kaina Makua’s reluctant, good-hearted king Kamehameha, and Jason Momoa’s vengeful chief of war Ka’iana on the other.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025
Founded in 2008, Groupon, which once spurned a $6 billion takeover offer from Google on its way to a $25 billion valuation, has fallen in recent years to a fraction of its previous worth amid sharp revenue declines.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
For example, according to The Athletic, Vancouver Whitecaps signing Thomas Müller spurned FC Cincinnati because of concerns he’d be turned into a marketing machine with the city’s German-American community, and instead opted for a club where the main focus would be on the field.
—Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
The heat spurned wildfires that continue to blaze, and has been linked to more than 1,000 deaths.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
His 17 years as the school’s head football coach were among the most successful in school history and he was seen as a Wildcat icon, having spurned interest from bigger schools in order to remain with his alma mater.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurned
Verb
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Much of the derision was coming from the performers’ contemporaries — some of whom had rejected the invite on moral and political grounds, but many who were not actually invited to perform.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Oct. 2025
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Some 88 percent of mice rejected pancreatic cancer, 75 percent of mice did for breast cancer and 69 percent rejected melanoma tumors.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ares was in development for a decade, but former Disney exec Sean Bailey refused to give up and shepherded the project when serving as head of Disney’s live-action studio.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Oct. 2025
-
In southern Gaza, a group opposed to Hamas known as the Popular Forces has refused to lay down its arms.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Through his attorney, Farley has consistently declined to comment on the allegations against him.—
Meena Duerson,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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As a boy, Kai’s father, Hans-Jürgen — who was the fourth of Rudolph’s five children — declined to go into much detail about Rudolph’s past with his son.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The mass firings come just two months after the CDC experienced a mass exodus of top officials from the agency, who said they were prompted to resign in August after Kennedy sidelined officials and ignored scientific research and protocols since he was assigned to his role to lead the department.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
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Yet when spring training rolls back around next year, the Yankees’ promise to fans will begin anew and recent shortcomings will be ignored.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spurned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurned. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
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