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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in refusal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spurn
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
Austen's work has spurned many memorable screen adaptations, fan clubs and societies alike; a testament to how her work still resonates today.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025
He’s been spurned by the refs in multiple cities this week already.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025
Nebraska's Matt Rhule initially looked like the clear favorite to win the job, but eventually opted to stay in Lincoln, spurning his alma mater.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spurn
Verb
District Attorney Summer Stephan reminded the crowd that San Diego is not free of its own tragedies spurned by antisemitic hate and bigotry, including instances of hateful graffiti vandalizing a synagogue and destruction of a menorah at The Chabad House at San Diego State University.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurn
Verb
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According to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched in November to a residence in the Linville community of Marion after a caller reported a neighbor standing in their driveway screaming and refusing to leave the property despite having been warned previously.—
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Some exemptions for law enforcement agencies exist, but Cal-OSHA claims the sheriff’s office refused to prove its exemption, according to court documents.—
Noun
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Although the two were mostly in favor of improving revenue-sharing for the teams in over two-plus years of bitter negotiations, the discovery process showed their growing frustration with NASCAR's board of directors over its refusal to make the charters permanent.—
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And as Deborah Baker’s detailed account reveals, the inability of government officials to recognize the Nazi threat would both echo past failures in this country’s capacity to handle extremism, and forecast its refusal to even try.—
Verb
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Bonta rejected the allegations as unsubstantiated and said the states were targeted solely because of their political leadership.—
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For at least the third time in just over a year, Humphrey has rejected most serious charges against rule-breaking cops.—
Noun
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The matter-of-fact rebuff feels very French, very Oklou.—
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There was a unilateral rebuff toward the idea that the industry is experiencing a drummer shortage in general.—
Verb
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When asked about its plans, McDonald's declined to comment to Fox News Digital.—
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Due to ongoing litigation, the airline declined to comment further.—
Noun
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As Sportico detailed, Pasadena and the RBOC sued UCLA a couple of weeks ago for breach of contract and anticipatory repudiation.—
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Now Republicans see Tuesday’s ballot-box repudiation of the GOP as a reminder that voters respond primarily to the cost of living.—
Noun
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Larger than life, his creation repulses and torments him, and Victor spends the rest of his life both running from it and trying to destroy it.—
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The optical, stop-motion, and puppetry effects alone should make Brain Damage a priority on your watchlist, but Henenlotter’s film excites and repulses on a deeper level.—
Cite this Entry
“Spurn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurn. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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