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reject

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noun

1
as in outcast
one who is cast out or rejected by society was the school reject as a child and has low self-esteem even today

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in discard
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others that apple has a mushy spot on it, so it's a reject

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word reject different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of reject are decline, refuse, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When might decline be a better fit than reject?

While in some cases nearly identical to reject, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When would refuse be a good substitute for reject?

The words refuse and reject are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When could repudiate be used to replace reject?

The meanings of repudiate and reject largely overlap; however, repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

When is it sensible to use spurn instead of reject?

Although the words spurn and reject have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

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 reject
Verb
Although the Duke of Sussex had offered to cover the costs of security, the bid was rejected. Simon Perry, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025 The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who twice rejected Trump’s effort to move his hush money criminal case from New York state court to federal court, a gambit aimed at advancing his presidential immunity claims. Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
Instead of letting the weird baking mixes or seasonings go to waste, team up with your partner or roommates and make an Iron Chef style meal of the rejects. Grace McCarty, SELF, 28 Dec. 2024 Led by the foul-mouthed and fouler-smelling Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman), the team of rejects consists of River Cartwright (Jack Lowden), Roddy Ho (Christopher Chung), Louisa Guy (Rosalind Eleazar) and Catherine Standish (Saskia Reeves) among others including newcomer, J.K. Coe (Thomas Brooke). Erik Kain, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for reject
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reject
Verb
  • Read Next National Company refused to hire women as AL security officers, feds say.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The panel of House and Senate members argued over whether to punish the universities for their DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — or whether to reward the schools for recent actions, like refusing to compete with a volleyball team with a transgender athlete.
    Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The government of Isla Mujeres also denied that the event was taking place there.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • At her appearance, the Court denied the state’s motion to detain Formella pre-trial and released her with conditions including no entry into Downers Grove South High School and no contact with anyone under the age of eighteen.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rice, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and gravy were discarded after they were measured too cold to be safe.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • However, when cashew nuts are processed, the cashew apple, although edible, is often discarded or left unused in many commercial nut processing systems.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But declining attendances now sees that held in February each year.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Therefore, sell-side strategists’ year-end price targets for the S & P 500 will decline unless the administration makes a significant shift on tariffs soon.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There is also new character, a Nazi collaborator from World War 2 who is a social outcast.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
  • But sheer athleticism won’t turn him into a celebrity, and his demeanor doesn’t endear him to people—Majors plays Maddox as a sullen and tightly wound outcast whose environment shapes his isolation.
    Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Rather than accepting these rejections, Green decided to self-publish.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Bibi believes this rejection of woke culture and equality is leading to a growing hatred among these young boys.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s own Social Security chief eventually refuted the claim.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025
  • His lawyers refute the charges and argue no crimes have been committed that violate his visa.
    Anna Spiegel, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The plan is/was to dump most of the high-leverage load on Romano, Matt Strahm, José Alvarado and Orion Kerkering.
    Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Global investors have been fretting over the effects of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the global economy, leading them to dump equities.
    Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reject. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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