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
People have to show they’ve been turned down by at least three companies.
—
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Haddish had auditioned for Saturday Night Live multiple times and been turned down.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
The Jets also reportedly turned down a second-round pick offer for defensive end Jermaine Johnson.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Pertegaz turned down the opportunity, focusing on his own creations.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025
In recent days, the measure’s opponents have gone relatively quiet and turned down their spending to defeat it.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Be forewarned, though, that consumers with lower credit scores may get turned down.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
News of a Call of Duty movie emerged earlier this year, with Puck reporting that Paramount had turned down a pitch from Steven Spielberg to adapt the game into a feature film.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Israeli industry figures from major institutions, including DocAviv Festival, the CoPro market and public broadcaster Kan, have all been turned down from attending the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, one of the world’s leading documentary festivals.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Haddish had auditioned for Saturday Night Live multiple times and been turned down.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025
The Jets also reportedly turned down a second-round pick offer for defensive end Jermaine Johnson.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Pertegaz turned down the opportunity, focusing on his own creations.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025
In recent days, the measure’s opponents have gone relatively quiet and turned down their spending to defeat it.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025
Be forewarned, though, that consumers with lower credit scores may get turned down.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
News of a Call of Duty movie emerged earlier this year, with Puck reporting that Paramount had turned down a pitch from Steven Spielberg to adapt the game into a feature film.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Israeli industry figures from major institutions, including DocAviv Festival, the CoPro market and public broadcaster Kan, have all been turned down from attending the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, one of the world’s leading documentary festivals.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned down
Verb
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Google, Meta, Microsoft’s LinkedIn, and Elon Musk’s X have all delayed, adjusted, or flat-out refused to launch AI products because of the bloc’s laws.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 Nov. 2025
-
And the defense refused to yield.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, this is early days, and there have been similar drugs which looked promising at the beginning but were later rejected due to safety concerns, Nadar said.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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That can feel quite personal, and maybe the parents feel rejected too.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Dillard's declined to comment for this article.—
Amir Mahmoud,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Owens’ attorney, Joshua Kolsrud, who is representing her in the criminal allegations involving Echard and, now, the Scottsdale man, declined to comment, citing her pending criminal trial, which is scheduled for January 2026.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
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 18 Nov. 2025.
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