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 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
Tatum now stars in director Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman, but the actor previously turned down an offer from the filmmaker to star in the 2010 drama Blue Valentine.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 8 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
The deal was finalized after Hurley reportedly turned down a six-year offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to become the franchise's next head coach.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Even Grazer, who is most know for being Ron Howard’s producer, is constantly being turned down.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Twice in the past five years, supermajorities of voters have turned down proposals to build new high school baseball and softball fields in Louisburg, Kansas, home of the Wildcats.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Khowaja assured the council the speaker volume would be kept low and turned down in the evening.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Tatum now stars in director Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman, but the actor previously turned down an offer from the filmmaker to star in the 2010 drama Blue Valentine.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 8 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
The deal was finalized after Hurley reportedly turned down a six-year offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to become the franchise's next head coach.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Even Grazer, who is most know for being Ron Howard’s producer, is constantly being turned down.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Twice in the past five years, supermajorities of voters have turned down proposals to build new high school baseball and softball fields in Louisburg, Kansas, home of the Wildcats.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2025
Khowaja assured the council the speaker volume would be kept low and turned down in the evening.
—Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned down
Verb
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But the friendship fell apart earlier this year when Farage refused to echo Musk’s support for Robinson, the founder of the now-defunct anti-immigration English Defence League (EDL), who was previously jailed for being in contempt of court by repeating false accusations about a Syrian refugee.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
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After handling raw chicken, an employee refused to wash his hands in the handwashing sink, instead of the prep sink.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She was discovered by a photographer in the lobby of a modeling agency that had just rejected her.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Sep. 2025
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Neither Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin nor the camp representing star forward Kirill Kaprizov are saying much after the team’s potentially history-making first contract offer was reportedly rejected.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mendoza declined multiple requests for an interview and did not provide comments in response to ProPublica’s letters detailing the case.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
13 Sep. 2025
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Citing the ongoing investigation, police declined to release further details.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 18 Sep. 2025.
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