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
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
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Recent Examples of turndown
Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2026
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, 10 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Adelman watched each game from his Portland home, often turning down the volume to mute the announcers, much to the chagrin of his wife, Mary Kay.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for turndown
Noun
Evenings wind down with thoughtful touches including local truffles at turndown, fireplaces flickering, and record-listening prompt cards.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2026
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, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Recently, after years of turning down offers to expand the brand, Chiva-Som recently opened its first outpost, Zulal Wellness Retreat in Qatar, focussing on family health.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Adelman watched each game from his Portland home, often turning down the volume to mute the announcers, much to the chagrin of his wife, Mary Kay.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for turndown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turndown
Noun
-
In a city where more than 145 languages are spoken, and every neighborhood carries the flavors of somewhere else, the drinking scene reflects that same refusal to be pinned down.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
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But his refusal to put anything in writing, and the president's continued praise for the plan, have made some senators skeptical.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Some people in the crowd who refused to leave and blocked traffic engaged in large physically violent fights, causing multiple injuries, the official said.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
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Rajoub refused the entreaty, much to the frustration and embarrassment of Infantino.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
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New relationships will inevitably open up old wounds like abandonment and rejection.—
Sabrina Romanoff,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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Demie worked closely with the show’s makeup and wardrobe stylists to craft Maddy’s look, helping the character evolve from someone obsessed with being the perfect girlfriend in the first half of Season 1, to a bolder, hyper-feminine rejection of the softness her boyfriend had expected of her.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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As of last month, according to Yahoo Sports, more than $125 million worth of NIL compensation that had been promised to athletes had been rejected by the clearinghouse or was still under review.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Now after the denial of DeMore, the Parole Board still does not have a member with a prosecutorial background.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
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Friedkin, who died in 2023 and is seen only in archival interviews, now seems disingenuous in some of his denials that the film was exploitative, especially with regard to the murder that inspired it.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2026
Verb
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His Democratic Party then went further by pushing a special counsel that could cancel the charges against him outright -- a move Lee declined to endorse or oppose publicly.—
Joohee Cho,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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Writers and reporters at the conference are learning how to improve their coverage of topics, including changes to education at the federal and state levels, the use of artificial intelligence in schools, and declining enrollment.—
Kellye Lynn,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Around him, Turkey’s best ball progressors, Arda Guler and Hakan Calhanoglu, will frequently drop deep to pull the opposition out of shape and look for incisive passes up the pitch.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
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Buttery, herby garlic knots are too good to pass up, especially when served with warm marinara sauce for quick dipping.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turndown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turndown. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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