as in refusing
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
Relevance
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 turning down
Ament, 18, will soon begin his freshman season for the Tennessee Volunteers after turning down a multitude of suitors.
—
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
At the time, she had also been accepted to Juilliard and considered turning down the role.
—Hannah Parry
amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
But if United chose this path by signing two big-money attacking midfielders this summer, so too did Fernandes by turning down Al Hilal’s offer to play in the Saudi Pro League.
—Mark Critchley, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Can states risk turning down massive economic development investments?
—Delaney Nolan, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
Counsell jumped from the Brewers to the Cubs two years ago, landing a precedent-setting contract in Chicago while turning down an attractive offer to stay in Milwaukee.
—Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Many job applicants are turning down offers, worried that the positions are not stable and uneasy with the overall direction of the agency, according to internal documents examined by ProPublica.
—David Armstrong, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2025
Neeta Satam | Bloomberg | Getty Images Some 3,200 Boeing defense unit workers went on strike for the first time in almost three decades early Monday after turning down a contract offer with the company.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2025
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2025
At the time, she had also been accepted to Juilliard and considered turning down the role.
—Hannah Parry
amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
But if United chose this path by signing two big-money attacking midfielders this summer, so too did Fernandes by turning down Al Hilal’s offer to play in the Saudi Pro League.
—Mark Critchley, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
Can states risk turning down massive economic development investments?
—Delaney Nolan, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
Counsell jumped from the Brewers to the Cubs two years ago, landing a precedent-setting contract in Chicago while turning down an attractive offer to stay in Milwaukee.
—Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Many job applicants are turning down offers, worried that the positions are not stable and uneasy with the overall direction of the agency, according to internal documents examined by ProPublica.
—David Armstrong, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2025
Neeta Satam | Bloomberg | Getty Images Some 3,200 Boeing defense unit workers went on strike for the first time in almost three decades early Monday after turning down a contract offer with the company.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning down
Verb
-
Advertisement Jimmy’s quick return is not proof of corporate backbone—massive station groups Sinclair and NexStar are still refusing to air the show.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Earlier this month, another passenger was dragged off a plane by police for allegedly refusing to wear a seatbelt.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There's a clear uphill battle ahead, but OpenAI's Altman brushed off concerns on Tuesday, rejecting the idea that the infrastructure spending spree is overkill.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Lawyers for Cook urged the court not to fire her, rejecting the allegations.—
Claire Cameron,
semafor.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Since then, the administration has, while declining to publicly state its position as regime change, signaled clear interest in removing Maduro from power.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Energy demands around the world are rising, and with the increasing impacts of climate change and the declining efficiency of existing infrastructure, the situation is likely to worsen.—
Lauren Giella,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s still true now, even as that back has a degenerative disorder that led to weeks missed in training camp and has this 37-year-old dirting the ball in the face of rushers and passing up lanes to rush for touchdowns.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
In fact, passing up the Chiefs is the team’s top challenge entering Harbaugh’s second season.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And while Tapestry had hoped to gather learnings on footwear production, word in the shoe market from investment bankers was that its biggest mistake was in throwing out the lasts that the brand’s founder and chief designer had perfected over the years.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Although he’s been linked to other teams already, one idea worth throwing out there is Kevin Love.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turning down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20down. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share