REJECT Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

reject 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈjekt

Definition of reject next

as in to refuse

to be unwilling to grant rejected his request for time off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deny

to declare not to be true I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discard

to get rid of as useless or unwanted sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered

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as in to decline

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to rejected his marriage proposal

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reject

2 of 2

noun

ˈrē-ˌjekt

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

insider

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

James Thurber The New Yorker rejected twenty submissions from Thurber before publishing his first piece, in 1927. —

The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 The majority opinion rejected Ohta’s finding that the CIRB reports were not protected by attorney-client privilege. —

Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025

Noun

Your rejects can stay but your salary will pay for the lawyers who will fix their mistakes. —

Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2024 In the new season, Lamb, who leads a group of talented rejects from Britain’s spy agency MI5, has to use his instincts, contacts and sometimes a large taxi to battle a new foe that is endangering one of his agents. Need a break? —

Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reject

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reject

Verb

Three were transported to nearby hospitals to receive treatments, and one refused medical help.

— Washington Examiner Staff, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Feb. 2025
For that reason, employers often reserve the right to refuse some requests.

— Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Feb. 2025