rejection

noun

ri-ˈjek-shən How to pronounce rejection (audio)
Definition of rejectionnext
1
as in denial
a refusal to confirm the truth of a statement made a flat rejection of the charges against him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refusal
an unwillingness to grant something asked for the judge's swift rejection of the lawyer's request for a recess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in discard
something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others that pile is for rejections, and this one is for applications we'll be accepting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 rejection The inescapable sounds of rejection and resentment should’ve long been raining down from the Dawg Pound and ringing in the ears of the bosses who divided this fanbase by dolling up a flawed man as their franchise quarterback. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The Schmittian focus on stability and coexistence resonates with the New Right’s opposition to forever wars and rejection of universalist schemes. — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 His voice, so soft and fragile, could belong to both man and woman; the universal scar of romantic rejection. — Ernesto Lechner, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 More recently, talk radio played a significant role in the conspiracy theories around Obama and arguably helped drive some of the contemporary conservative sphere’s rejection of the truth and embrace of authoritarianism. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rejection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rejection
  1. denial
  2. refusal
  3. discard
  4. reject
  5. second
  6. cull
Noun
  • Improve home-health billing, claims submission, denial management, legacy accounts receivable, revenue-cycle dashboards, and financial sustainability.
    — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The denial-of-service attacks meant that hackers pushed massive traffic toward the agency in order to block services, including one that enables citizens to use one login across multiple public services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of denial
Noun
  • The government said the designation stemmed from Anthropic’s refusal to accept contractual terms, not its views on AI safety.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Haakon’s refusal to go along with German demands garnered respect among his people.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of refusal
Noun
  • Drawing on classic trial films and cartoon lore, director Dave Green crafts an underdog story that mirrors the movie’s own David-versus-Goliath journey from studio discard to theatrical release.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • If liquid collects on the top of the discard, stir it in before using.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of discard
Noun
  • And both the immune and eliminated designers are high on their own power; Elizabeth, in particular, is acting mighty haughty for a woman whose ruffled scarlet satin dress looks like a reject from the Westworld costume department.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • The most opinionated of these rejects is Smarty Pants, a basic toilet-training tech tool given an amusingly snarky attitude by Conan O’Brien.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
Definition of reject
Noun
  • Its 100mm pixel macro lens captures 28 images per second in order to guide the jet to the gaps in your teeth.
    — Jenny Bailly, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The two stabbings happened about 20 seconds apart, Tisch said.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of second
Noun
  • This decision risks a reduction in the price dairy farmers receive for their cull cows and higher profits for foreign beef exporters, all for a potentially nominal decrease in the retail ground beef price.
    — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Dunk has survived the cull of the ‘old guard’ — Danny Welbeck, Joel Veltman, James Milner, Solly March and Adam Webster have either moved to other clubs, retired or been released.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of cull

Browse Nearby Words

rejecting
rejection
rejections
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Cite this Entry

“Rejection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rejection. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rejection

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rejection

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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