balks (at)

verb

present tense third-person singular of balk (at)
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)
  1. refuses
  2. rejects
  3. declines
Verb
  • Recently in Colorado, a progressive 15-term Democratic member of Congress lost a primary election to a DSA candidate who refuses to condemn as anti-Semitic the firebombing of a demonstration for Israeli hostages.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
  • Now they are being flown to Bhutan - a country that still refuses to recognize them as citizens and expels them on arrival to India or Nepal.
    — Maansi Srivastava, NPR, 21 July 2026
Definition of refuses
Verb
  • The director rejects aspects of modernity in his personal life, too.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
  • Conversely, when a judge rejects a motion for an injunction, companies can move to complete a takeover deal quickly.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of rejects
Verb
  • When the foliage declines the bulbs, actually tubers, rest before restarting growth the following spring.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Supreme Court declines to hear appeal After the injunction was granted earlier this month, Schwab immediately asked the Kansas Supreme Court to act on the matter.
    — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of declines
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

balks
balks (at)
balky
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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 4 Aug. 2026.

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