REJECT Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'reject' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of reject are decline , refuse , repudiate , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When might 'decline' be a better fit than 'reject'?

While in some cases nearly identical to reject , decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When would 'refuse' be a good substitute for 'reject'?

The words refuse and reject 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 could 'repudiate' be used to replace 'reject'?

The meanings of repudiate and reject 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'spurn' instead of 'reject'?

Although the words spurn and reject have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

reject 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈjekt

Definition of reject

as in to refuse

to be unwilling to grant rejected his request for time off

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deny

to declare not to be true I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discard

to get rid of as useless or unwanted sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to decline

to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to rejected his marriage proposal

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reject

2 of 2

noun

ˈrē-ˌjekt

as in outcast

one who is cast out or rejected by society was the school reject as a child and has low self-esteem even today

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

insider

as in discard

something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others that apple has a mushy spot on it, so it's a reject

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How is the word reject different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of reject are decline, refuse, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When might decline be a better fit than reject?

While in some cases nearly identical to reject, decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When would refuse be a good substitute for reject?

The words refuse and reject 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 could repudiate be used to replace reject?

The meanings of repudiate and reject 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

When is it sensible to use spurn instead of reject?

Although the words spurn and reject have much in common, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

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 reject

Verb

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a pair of emergency petitions filed by activist groups to stop the implementation of a Texas law requiring app stores to verify users’ ages. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2026 Critics see it as another attempt to breathe life into claims that courts, investigators and election officials have repeatedly rejected — and another corrosive attempt to undermine faith in the state’s vote. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 6 July 2026

Noun

Today, there are hundreds of rejects packed in wood cabinets and cardboard boxes. — Steve Hartman, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026 Scrabbling around to recruit rejects from an inconsistent Chelsea team is not a position a club of the stature of Bayern Munich should ever be in. — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reject

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reject

Verb

Hamas’ statement made no mention of disarmament, one of the key requirements under the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which the group has so far refused.

— Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
To conceal the theft from his investors, Correia refused to disclose his company’s financial records and gave false positive updates on SnoOwl’s status.

— Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
One of the most direct things people can do is avoid flushing or discarding unused medications down the sink or toilet!

— Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of discard

Noun

Using basic academic terminology would place grants at risk of rejection or termination on political grounds.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
That persisted into 2026 amid disagreements over the Russian war on Ukraine, including Meloni’s rejection of a proposal by Britain and France to send European troops there following a possible ceasefire.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

Four fisher people from Indonesia’s Pari Island filed a legal complaint in 2023 against the Swiss construction company Holcim, which refutes their assertion that its climate change-causing emissions threaten their homes and livelihoods.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Wainger also refuted the assertion that Pennel had expected to be arrested.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Definition of refute

Verb

The Category 4 storm brought 140 mph winds and a 15-foot storm surge to parts of the Gulf Coast before combining with a separate system, dumping over 30 inches of rain in parts of North Carolina over the span of a few days.

— Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Add three-quarters of the celery mixture to the potatoes and marinating liquid, dump in the mayo dressing, and gently stir to combine.

— Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026

Definition of dump

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reiterative

reject

rejected

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“Reject.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reject. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of reject

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