TURNING DOWN Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

turning down

verb

present participle of turn down

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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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 Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys said the city has spent four years turning down redevelopment offers for Palmetto Research Park in an effort to hold the property for higher-wage employers. — John Marks, Charlotte Observer, 2 July 2026 Value your time by turning down unpaid tasks. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 Tips for Reducing Home Cooling Costs To further maximize your energy savings, consider these tips for cooling your home without turning down the AC. — Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026 Recently, after years of turning down offers to expand the brand, Chiva-Som recently opened its first outpost, Zulal Wellness Retreat in Qatar, focussing on family health. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 The company has also been the subject of acquisition rumors in recent months, reportedly turning down interest from both Sazerac and Pernod Ricard. — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 Carlos is on his way to the casino, turning down his mother’s offer of his favorite lunch and proceeding with such purpose that his head is barely turned by a parade of the gayest matelots since Pierre et Gilles’ 2005 book Sailors & Sea. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026 The trade came one year after Odighizuwa signed a four-year, $80 million extension with Dallas after reportedly turning down more money to remain with the Cowboys. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026 In hindsight, Julius Randle turning down a potential drive to the rim and instead lobbing a grenade to Rudy Gobert near the end of the shot clock was a harbinger of the rest of his night. — Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning down

Verb

The discipline is refusing to play the obvious one, which is accepting the first answer.

— Terry Oroszi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
This season,, Sanders is and refusing to look ahead when asked about the team’s first two Big 12 games against Baylor and the league’s defending champions, Texas Tech.

— Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026

Definition of refusing

Verb

El-Sayed has built his campaign around bold policy proposals, rejecting corporate PAC money and casting himself as an alternative to the status quo of the Democratic Party.

— Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Kalshi lost an attempt to override New York’s state gambling laws yesterday, with a federal judge rejecting the prediction market operator’s request to prevent enforcement of the rules.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026

Definition of rejecting

Verb

There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
For years now, Olathe Schools has talked about its problem of declining enrollment.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of declining

Verb

The Emmys’ producers passing up on even the slightest possibility of a Werner Herzog acceptance speech is sheer lunacy.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 20 June 2026
The Supreme Court is staying out of a case about whether the Catholic Church misled parishioners about the purpose of an annual collection, passing up a chance to probe the independence churches have from government interference.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 May 2026

Definition of passing up

Verb

Anthony had a cortisone shot last week and had begun throwing over the weekend.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Next, a gentle tip-tap rippling through major East Coast cities, as the girls collectively add to cart whatever Holmes is toting or throwing over her shoulders.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2026

Definition of throwing over

Verb

An earlier decision from the court throwing out Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act came early enough that some red states were able to scramble and redraw congressional district lines to further favor Republicans.

— Tamara Keith, NPR, 1 July 2026
Greg Abel celebrates after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Iowa Cubs played the Buffalo Bisons on June 25, 2026.

— Alex Crippen, CNBC, 27 June 2026

Definition of throwing out

Browse Nearby Words

turning color

turning down

turning in

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“Turning down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20down. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of turning down

verb

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