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

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

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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

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 spurn

Verb

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 On Tuesday afternoon, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported that Salah was headed to Turkey to play for Trabzonspor, spurning whatever advances Sporting had made for the star. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 5 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 See All Example Sentences for spurn

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spurn

Verb

Officers said Marvin repeatedly refused instructions to move out of the robot's path.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Others seemed meek, with downcast eyes that refused to meet the camera.

— Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of refuse

Noun

The refusal has to be enforced in the part of the system that does not get rewritten every sprint.

— Murali Rajendran, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Opposite him is Nouri, the idealistic doctor, whose refusal to enforce a Sharia court order puts his life in jeopardy.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of refusal

Noun

Perhaps this accident of birth is connected to the subtle rebuff of modern life in Marcon’s films.

— Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026
The rebuff contributes to the future civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) for the seat of power.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026

Definition of rebuff

Verb

Central bank holdings at the New York Fed declined 40 tonnes in August, Goldman added, while holdings at the Bank of England rose 46 tonnes.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
For this story, however, the district declined to comment due to Ortiz’s lawsuit, which is ongoing.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of decline

Noun

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.

— Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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.

— Rory Doherty, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024

Definition of repulse

Browse Nearby Words

spuriousness

spurn

spurned

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“Spurn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spurn. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spurn

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