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
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Recent Examples of turning down
In Georgia, a neonatal intensive care unit colleague who asked not to be named says parents are turning down Tylenol use for premature babies born with a heart condition that has long been successfully treated with the medication.
—
Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning down
Verb
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Defend Our Juries remained defiant, refusing to cancel the protest.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Maura is marvelous stomping around the apartment in a cold fury and refusing to speak to Clara, who proceeds regardless with broker negotiations and brings in antiques dealer Abslam (Ahmed Boulane) to buy up the contents.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Despite rejecting his proposal, her feelings for him stayed the same.—
Katie Mannion,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The countries now recognizing a Palestinian state and publicly committing themselves to the prospect are rejecting that premise and denying the settler right’s attempt at a fait accompli.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Schools are facing mounting challenges — from funding pressures to declining enrollment and stagnant student achievement.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Low midsingle-digit gains are anticipated due to rising prices from tariffs and inflation, declining consumer confidence, economic uncertainties and potential stockouts.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And that means passing up scramble lanes on bootlegs and dirting the ball in the face of free rushers.—
Nate Atkins,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Science scores were also mixed between grades, with 5th graders passing up 1%, 8th graders down 2% and high schoolers down 3%.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 6 Oct. 2025.
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