spurn
1 of 2verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
spurn
2 of 2noun
Synonyms
Verb
- balk (at)
- decline
- deselect
- disapprove
- negative
- nix
- pass
- pass up
- refuse
- reject
- reprobate
- repudiate
- throw out
- throw over
- turn down
Example Sentences
Allison Nicole Smith, Fortune, 26 July 2022 Sixty-two percent of voters—more than 12.2 million—cast ballots to spurn the draft constitution, with 38% voting in favor, the Servel electoral agency reported with nearly all the votes tallied. Juan Forero, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Big-name free agents usually don’t spurn Los Angeles to go to Buffalo. Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2022 Moscow's attack led numerous nations to spurn Russian fuel, removing from the market a major source of oil, the main component of diesel fuel, and driving prices drastically up. Arkansas Online, 20 July 2022 Moscow’s attack led numerous nations to spurn Russian fuel, removing from the market a major source of oil, the main component of diesel fuel, and driving prices drastically up. Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2022 During each offseason, Greyhounds men’s lacrosse coach Charley Toomey knew his best player would spurn lacrosse workouts to play pick-up basketball every day. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Aug. 2022 More children than at any time during the pandemic are getting infected because of the high contagiousness of the omicron variant and the millions of Americans who still spurn the vaccine. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Jan. 2022 Juul also said it had been treated unfairly, noting that it had been singled out by members of Congress who nudged the agency to spurn the company. Christina Jewett, BostonGlobe.com, 6 July 2022 Stephen Means, cleveland, 17 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Verb
Middle English, from Old English spurnan; akin to Old High German spurnan to kick, Latin spernere to spurn, Greek spairein to quiver
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Kids Definition
spurn
verb
spurn 1 of 2
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- refuse
- reject
- decline
- ignore
- deny
- avoid
- pass
- deny
- dismiss
- withdraw
- repudiate
- disapprove
- veto
- dispute
- forbid
- pass up
- throw over
- nix
- turn down
- throw out
- deselect
- dispute
- reprobate
- rebuff
- negative
- scorn
- disdain
- renounce
- overrule
- proscribe
- prohibit
- forswear
- balk (at)
- scout
- disavow
- forbear
- abjure
- retract
- gainsay
- revoke
- blow off
- turn one's back on
- contradict
- disown
- recant
- shoot down
- stick
- refute
- disclaim
- bypass
- recall
- take back
- foreswear
- renege
- controvert
- negate
- disallow
- disprove
- unsay
- rebut
- detour
- back down
- backtrack
- abstain (from)
- refrain (from)
- back off
- disagree (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accept
- approve
- receive
- tolerate
- embrace
- take
- adopt
- agree (to)
- swallow
- condone
- acquiesce
- welcome
- countenance
- accede
- choose
- agree
- select
- consent
- assent
- support
- espouse
- handpick
spurn
2 of 2noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- refusal
- rebuff
- repulse
- repudiation
- nay
- no
- rejection
- denial
- nonacceptance
- veto
- declination
- injunction
- turndown
- disallowance
- suppression
- ban
- discouragement
- repression
- negative
- deterrence
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- grant
- approval
- allowance
- sanction
- leave
- acceptance
- acquiescence
- okay
- consent
- permission
- agreement
- assent
- accession
- clearance
- license
- licence
- seal
- authorization
- concurrence
- sufferance
- OK
- signature
- stamp
- imprimatur
Synonym Chooser
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.
In some situations, the words decline and spurn are roughly equivalent. However, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.
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.
The synonyms reject and spurn are sometimes interchangeable, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.
The meanings of repudiate and spurn largely overlap; however, repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.