TURN DOWN Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

turndown 1 of 2

noun

ˈtərn-ˌdau̇n

Definition of turndown

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

Wellness is also sprinkled throughout the stay in other ways outside of Thistle, like the welcome ritual and the nightly turndown service. — Jess Feldman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 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, 5 July 2026

Verb

The Baltimore Ravens, who had entered the challenge and won, turned down Musk's offer after initial meetings with the company. — Lora Kolodny,ari Levy, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026 Most high school students would jump at the chance to go to Columbia, but Hudson Hooper turned down the opportunity to get an Ivy League education to walk on and play football at TCU in 2023. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turndown

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turndown

Noun

To Diana, who has taken over First Desk at the Park after last season’s events, River’s refusal to take bereavement leave gives her license to speak about his grandfather’s funeral arrangements with her usual cool formality.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
That refusal to chase the noise has shaped a career spanning four decades.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of refusal

Verb

The report said Evans first refused to give officers his name and then spit into one officer's face after being taken into custody.

— Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of refuse

Noun

With breathtaking speed, a little over a month after the Good Earth casting rejection, Wong left Hollywood to fulfill her lifelong dream of visiting China.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Maybe, then, the work isn’t so much a project, but a lifelong mission, an analogue rejection of video being the medium of instant gratification.

— Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

Metcalf credits his unusual durability with an unusual ability to reject himself.

— Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In 2024, the court rejected an emergency request from Nicaragua to order Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel in Gaza, but the 16-judge panel declined to throw out the case altogether.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of reject

Noun

Hamilton's denial follows a report Tuesday in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera which said Hamilton had asked for changes to Ferrari's trackside staff and that his relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur was strained.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
About a third of mortgage denials for primary home purchases with conventional loans in 2025 were due to a lack of credit history, according to Zillow’s analysis of 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of denial

Verb

His attorney, Daniel Gerdts, declined to comment after the hearing.

— TIM SULLIVAN, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
There are also discussions about an adjacent White House meeting with AI CEOs next week, which House Majority Leader Mike Johnson referenced, but a representative for the speaker declined to provide further details.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

The game featured a fourth-quarter comeback by Mizzou and a Tigers fan passing up a chance to win $25k to troll the Jayhawks instead.

— Justin Williams, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The opportunity to move into the former Optica Lopez building was something that the El Fresco team could not pass up.

— Natu Tweh, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of pass up

Browse Nearby Words

turn color

turndown

turn down

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Turndown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turndown. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of turndown

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aggrandize

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes