as in refused
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
I'm afraid that I will have to turn down your invitation
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Recent Examples of turned down
The Farmers Insurance Open begins Thursday morning at Torrey Pines, which means, at least for a few hours, the volume will be turned down on talk of the tournament’s future.
—
Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
His grandfather, Aba Goniondskis, turned down the role of Jewish police chief of the ghetto and was later killed by the Nazis.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
In recent years, legislators have turned down millions that would have gone toward meals for children and child care.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
The 28-year-old eventually signed a three-year contract with Leeds United three days before Everton visited Elland Road for the opening game of their respective seasons, having turned down Champions League interest.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Sherwood’s camp reportedly turned down a recent Canucks offer on an extension that was around three or four years in length with an average annual value of $4 million.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Frank started working at the stand at 11 years old and Frankie reported that Frank turned down the opportunity to attend the University of Pennsylvania and study to become an attorney to support the family business.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
By a 5-3 vote, Coral Gables’ preservation board in December turned down an application for historic designation for Eaton Residential College written by Lejeune.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Disney executives turned down Imagineering proposals to refurbish Disneyland’s aging Tomorrowland, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
His grandfather, Aba Goniondskis, turned down the role of Jewish police chief of the ghetto and was later killed by the Nazis.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
In recent years, legislators have turned down millions that would have gone toward meals for children and child care.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
The 28-year-old eventually signed a three-year contract with Leeds United three days before Everton visited Elland Road for the opening game of their respective seasons, having turned down Champions League interest.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Sherwood’s camp reportedly turned down a recent Canucks offer on an extension that was around three or four years in length with an average annual value of $4 million.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Frank started working at the stand at 11 years old and Frankie reported that Frank turned down the opportunity to attend the University of Pennsylvania and study to become an attorney to support the family business.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
By a 5-3 vote, Coral Gables’ preservation board in December turned down an application for historic designation for Eaton Residential College written by Lejeune.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Disney executives turned down Imagineering proposals to refurbish Disneyland’s aging Tomorrowland, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned down
Verb
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Unlike his friends Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich, Gerron refused to leave Germany and was ultimately sent to the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, along with many other cultural icons of his time.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In his news conference, Zverev refused to be drawn on his on-court outburst.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Among other measures, the settlement stipulates that Columbia won't consider race in admissions, programming or hiring, will provide a demographic and academics breakdown of all rejected and admitted students, and will review its international admissions process.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bob Atrops hired a lawyer a week after Debe's body was found and declined to take a polygraph.—
Sarah Prior,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Market Performance The S&P 500 declined modestly last week.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The first time Helena Morrissey had a child, she was passed up for a promotion.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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McAtamney’s lack of field goal range also played a part in this game because the Giants passed up attempts.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turned down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20down. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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