spurned

verb

past tense of spurn
as in rejected
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

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 spurned No mob godfather has ever been as terrifying as Roscoe Conkling spurned by Chester Arthur in the back of that carriage. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026 Johnson, the East Moline Democrat who spurned membership on the working group, noted it was constituted by lawmakers who had publicly spoken out in support of Welch in the fallout over his handling of the Benton scandal. — Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 Many fans were furious that the Royals spurned the many possible trade partners. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 Teams LeBron spurned, including the Heat and Timberwolves, have seen players like Bam Adebayo and Anthony Edwards playfully vow to challenge him. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 But a brief meeting led to a connection between the quarterbacks and set in motion one of the most surprising flips in recruiting history when the five-star prospect spurned Georgia at the 11th hour for Vanderbilt. — Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 30 July 2026 The face of the NBA and arguably its greatest player ever spurned the idea of playing with his biggest rival in the Bay Area. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 24 July 2026 Nearly a decade ago, a city task force spurned proposals to ease those restrictions to foster housing development north of Fifth along Washington, said Mooney, who is retiring from the city effective July 31. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026 And many of the best and brightest scientists and researchers spurned by America are going to other countries and are hired by businesses abroad that compete with our own—including, as Lee anticipated, China. — Robert Hormats, Time, 4 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurned
  1. rejected
  2. refused
  3. declined
  4. ignored
Verb
  • But others have rejected the idea that the system failed Clancy and have been highly critical of her supporters, including conservative commentators Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Last year, Manchester United were in discussions with him and made a loan bid in the latter stages of the summer transfer window which was rejected.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • Kansas City, Kansas, schools also refused to sign a resolution agreement.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Having refused to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2019, a group dominated by China, New Delhi has signed free trade agreements with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of refused
Verb
  • Trump has declined so far to endorse a successor, opting to keep his cards close ahead of what’s likely to be a bitter race.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
  • When asked about the lack of any tributes or the evening’s plans to honor Nolan, the Ocean Springs School District declined to comment.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of declined
Verb
  • Neighbors said their complaints about the empty lot were ignored for years until a fire burned part of the property and neighbor Kayt Miranda's garage early on Wednesday morning.
    — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The stock that spent two years being ignored by the same investors who loaded up on Hilton and Marriott is now having its moment.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ignored

Browse Nearby Words

spurn
spurned
spurning
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Cite this Entry

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

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