turndown 1 of 2

noun

ˈtərn-ˌdau̇n How to pronounce turndown (audio)
Definition of turndownnext
as in refusal
an unwillingness to grant something asked for the request to use the restroom was just a formality—I really didn't expect a turndown

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

turn down

2 of 2

verb

as in to refuse
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to I'm afraid that I will have to turn down your invitation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 turndown
Noun
For luxury hotels where the staff offers daily cleaning services and nightly turndown services, guests should leave a little more. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 All that plus nightly turndown service and 24-hour room service reflect the careful attention paid to guests at Moon Palace The Grand—Cancun. — Chelsea Adams, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Verb
The 47-year-old World Cup winner had reportedly emerged as a leading candidate to replace Gennaro Gattuso after Spaniard Pep Guardiola turned down the job. — Reuters, NBC news, 27 July 2026 But others in law enforcement have turned down requests to be featured on these programs, arguing their profession is not entertainment. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for turndown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turndown
  1. refusal
  2. refuse
  3. rejection
  4. reject
  5. denial
  6. decline
  7. pass up
Noun
  • The Star alleged the city’s refusal to release the document violated Missouri’s open records law.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Conversely, El-Sayed's messaging against the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and refusal of corporate PAC money has compelled voters.
    — Christina Zhang, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of refusal
Verb
  • Overeem also recalls being released after refusing a 50% pay cut, highlighting a lack of personal relationship with White.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Cornyn and Tillis had refused to back Blanche’s bid for the permanent post without official confirmation killing the fund meant to compensate people who believe they were unfairly prosecuted by the Justice Department.
    — Mary Clare Jalonick, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of refuse
Noun
  • The unprecedented proposal, aimed at accelerating investment, faced swift and broad opposition from major confederations like UEFA, CONCACAF, and the AFC, transforming it into a near-global rejection.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Spain’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned under the enclaves’ special border-rejection regime.
    — Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 31 July 2026
Definition of rejection
Verb
  • The family’s case was rejected — despite being first and second generation, and despite Pedro Monasterios and his children having been recognized as citizens just a few years earlier.
    — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Recently, the Pulaski County Quorum Court rejected a measure that would have established a 12-month moratorium on new data centers within unincorporated areas of the county.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of reject
Noun
  • Leto only issued his denial hours after the documentary was released — and even then, the statement was not shared with Radford, Sartenaer, and the team.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 30 July 2026
  • Several experts said the rule change, if implemented judiciously, could alleviate the backlog without leading to a surge in detentions or denials of valid asylum claims.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of denial
Verb
  • When reached by phone by CNN, one of the lead doctors for the trial, Yu Yongguo, declined to comment and hung up.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • The Pentagon declined to comment when contacted by CBS News for this story.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • However, the value at +188 to be a Top 10 finish in this field is too good to pass up, in my opinion.
    — Jeff Hartman, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • So long as the Tigers can extract a fair return — and the offers might matter more than the results of their games — the package for Skubal could be too good to pass up for the long-term health of the organization.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of pass up

Browse Nearby Words

turn color
turndown
turn down
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turndown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turndown. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All