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
Most of those variance requests were turned down, including Struve and Unger’s.
—
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
Exxon made the big oil discovery in the Stabroek Block in 2015 after Chevron and many other oil producers turned down the opportunity to invest in exploration, and emerged as the operator and 45% owner of the development.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
That had been turned down by 14 publishers and he was offered only a £3,000 advance for the manuscript.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
And in March the justices turned down a request by Republican attorneys general to stop climate lawsuits filed by states including California, Connecticut, Minnesota and Rhode Island.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Several companies eyed the growing dating app in its early years, as Herd turned down a $450 million buyout offer from the Match Group in 2017.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2025
The Observer noted that Austin previously turned down an appearance at the end of the main event of WrestleMania 40, where his role would have been help take out The Rock before Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns in the main event.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
On the flip side, shock and outrage was expressed in some quarters when Mbeumo turned down Champions League football at Newcastle in order to join a Manchester United team in transition under Amorim.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
After Victorious ended production in 2012, Thomas turned down the chance to attend Morehouse College, opting instead to hone his songwriting under Babyface’s mentorship.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
Exxon made the big oil discovery in the Stabroek Block in 2015 after Chevron and many other oil producers turned down the opportunity to invest in exploration, and emerged as the operator and 45% owner of the development.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
That had been turned down by 14 publishers and he was offered only a £3,000 advance for the manuscript.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
And in March the justices turned down a request by Republican attorneys general to stop climate lawsuits filed by states including California, Connecticut, Minnesota and Rhode Island.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Several companies eyed the growing dating app in its early years, as Herd turned down a $450 million buyout offer from the Match Group in 2017.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2025
The Observer noted that Austin previously turned down an appearance at the end of the main event of WrestleMania 40, where his role would have been help take out The Rock before Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns in the main event.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
On the flip side, shock and outrage was expressed in some quarters when Mbeumo turned down Champions League football at Newcastle in order to join a Manchester United team in transition under Amorim.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
After Victorious ended production in 2012, Thomas turned down the chance to attend Morehouse College, opting instead to hone his songwriting under Babyface’s mentorship.
—Kyle Denis, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned down
Verb
-
The parties have been in a standoff for days as Democrats, namely in the Senate, have refused to offer the necessary votes to pass a funding measure that would keep the government open beyond Tuesday.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Even after numerous prompt adjustments and desperate rephrasings, that feeling of the previous weeks’ intimate interactions refused to return.—
Jon Michael Varese,
The Atlantic,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the time, Bailey denied claims that the film was initially rejected due to censorship but rather footage clearance and security concerns.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But his grades had been mediocre, and he was rejected right and left, which neither fazed nor surprised him.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office also declined to answer whether deputies assisted in the operation.—
Sophie Carson,
jsonline.com,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Mortgage rates have been coming down, but there has yet to be a spike in homebuying activity—and one leading indicator has even declined.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Over one in ten report being passed up for a promotion or chance to get ahead because of their age.—
Helen Dennis,
Oc Register,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Silksong just passed up yesterday’s 562,000 concurrent Steam playercount record, a stunning number for a $20 indie game, though obviously boosted by its mythological status after seven years of waiting from fans.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turned down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20down. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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