SPURN Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'spurn' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of spurn are decline , refuse , reject , and repudiate . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

Q: Where would 'decline' be a reasonable alternative to 'spurn'?

In some situations, the words decline and spurn are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When could 'refuse' be used to replace 'spurn'?

The words refuse and spurn 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 would 'reject' be a good substitute for 'spurn'?

The synonyms reject and spurn are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When might 'repudiate' be a better fit than 'spurn'?

The meanings of repudiate and spurn 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

spurn 1 of 2

verb

ˈspərn

Definition of spurn next

as in to refuse

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to fiercely independent, the elderly couple spurned all offers of financial help

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

spurn

2 of 2

noun

as in refusal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of spurn are decline, refuse, reject, and repudiate. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

Where would decline be a reasonable alternative to spurn?

In some situations, the words decline and spurn are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When could refuse be used to replace spurn?

The words refuse and spurn 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 would reject be a good substitute for spurn?

The synonyms reject and spurn are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When might repudiate be a better fit than spurn?

The meanings of repudiate and spurn 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

Examples 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 spurn

Verb

In June 2020, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd, calls to defund the police spurned discussions in Cinncinati over how to allocate public safety funds. —

Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Oct. 2024 When, in their mid-fifties, the brothers accepted appointments at the University of Berlin, Jacob spurned any honors and illustrious positions that would take him away from his desk. —

Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 Carter initially spurned that offer while working with attorneys in the case to identify parcels where an initial 106 modular units of temporary housing could be placed. —

Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 As such, the once-massively popular Ali was largely spurned by the general public. —

Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spurn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurn

Verb

The most memorable productions may have involved classics of one kind or another, but these works were reborn in stagings that refused to play it safe.

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
China has labeled Lai a separatist and refuses to engage in dialogue with him, further increasing hostilities.

Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024