as in refuses
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 balks (at)
Verb
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There’s no denying that Caurón leans into the sentimental here and elsewhere, yet there’s a strong gust of catharsis that García Treviño transmits as Liborio’s bloodied body refuses to surrender.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026 -
But this team refuses to follow that path.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Social media giants urged to tighten child safety after UK rejects blanket ban for teens.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
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Although many manufacturers have started rolling out alternatives containing less of the dangerous silica, the industry rejects assertions that the high-silica products can’t be handled safely.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Enrollment declines, class size law The plan was put in motion when Samuels was serving as the local superintendent of District 3.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Gradual buys preserve flexibility if the market declines further.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Balks (at).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balks%20%28at%29. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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