balked (at)

verb

past tense of balk (at)
as in refused
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to she balked at lending him any more money

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for balked (at)
  1. refused
  2. rejected
  3. declined
Verb
  • The bank froze the gold after the UK – along with the US and numerous other countries – refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of Venezuela’s disputed 2018 presidential election.
    — German Padinger, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • While The Athletic spoke to a dozen sources around the league for this story, almost all refused to comment for publication, even anonymously.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of refused
Verb
  • Sherrill rejected that request Tuesday, calling it unsupported by law.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026
  • There were two outliers who rejected the idea that COVID was made in a lab and that the pandemic had resulted from a lab-leak.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • All the providers declined to speak with CNN about ongoing litigation.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
  • People who improved their adherence to MIND over 10 years, including those who didn’t follow it closely at first, had a 25% lower risk of dementia than those whose adherence declined.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Definition of declined
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.

Browse Nearby Words

balked
balked (at)
balkiness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Balked (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balked%20%28at%29. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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