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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 spurned
Labour spurned the chance to tell a positive story about the need to hike taxes to mend Britain’s public services, gutted by years of Conservative austerity.
—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Just last week, UniQure announced it was cleared to submit an application for a Huntington’s disease gene therapy that the agency had previously spurned and that former commissioner Marty Makary appeared to disparage on national television.
—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
22 June 2026
In 2024, voters in California and Massachusetts, two of the most leftward-leaning states in the nation, spurned ballot measures that would have resulted in minimum wage increases.
—
Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
Mbappe spurned two openings, first mis-controlling very early in the game when picked out by Olise and then denied well by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Salome, spurned by Jokanaan’s rejection, agrees.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Being based in Austin, Davis voiced particular dismay at having been spurned by his hometown school, the University of Texas.
—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
Ukraine retaliated after Russia spurned Kyiv’s ceasefire offer earlier in the week, with President Zelensky accusing Moscow of ignoring goodwill gestures and continuing all military operations against civilians.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Just last week, UniQure announced it was cleared to submit an application for a Huntington’s disease gene therapy that the agency had previously spurned and that former commissioner Marty Makary appeared to disparage on national television.
—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
22 June 2026
In 2024, voters in California and Massachusetts, two of the most leftward-leaning states in the nation, spurned ballot measures that would have resulted in minimum wage increases.
—
Paxton Honerkamp,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
Mbappe spurned two openings, first mis-controlling very early in the game when picked out by Olise and then denied well by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Salome, spurned by Jokanaan’s rejection, agrees.
—
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Being based in Austin, Davis voiced particular dismay at having been spurned by his hometown school, the University of Texas.
—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
Ukraine retaliated after Russia spurned Kyiv’s ceasefire offer earlier in the week, with President Zelensky accusing Moscow of ignoring goodwill gestures and continuing all military operations against civilians.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurned
Verb
-
Indigenous groups protested the last time Mount Rushmore hosted a fireworks display, and former President Joe Biden's administration rejected subsequent attempts to have fireworks at the national monument.
-
Judge Sullivan rejected the DOJ's arguments against releasing the materials and concluded that the Public Integrity Project, a public interest law firm, demonstrated that independent journalist Katie Phang was harmed by the materials being withheld.
Verb
-
One, Sam Hentges, apparently refused to wear it at all, appearing in the traditional cap the Giants wear the other 161 games.
-
Sojourner Truth refused to be defined by the stereotypes society tried to construct about her.
Verb
-
The Dadar Parsi Colony Gymkhana declined to comment because the matter is before the courts.
-
Starmer's popularity has also declined amid a persistently high cost of living, sluggish economic growth and criticism over his acceptance of gifts from wealthy donors.
Verb
-
After years of exam leaks, persistently high youth unemployment, and opportunities slipping further out of reach, their simmering frustration is sparking a demand for accountability that many say can no longer be ignored.
-
Several states and agencies also charge for rescues, particularly when visitors have ignored warning signs.
Cite this Entry
“Spurned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurned. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
