as in abandoned
left unoccupied or unused
picked up the rejected toy to see what was wrong with it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in denied
to be unwilling to grant
rejected his request for time off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refuted
to declare not to be true
I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in discarded
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in refused
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
rejected his marriage proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 rejected
Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
That happened recently in Kansas City – where voters rejected a new stadium – and Philadelphia, where the team reversed its decision to build the arena near the city’s Chinatown.
—Gidon Jakar, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
But the reality is that this transformation is the culmination of years of work by niche groups of conservative intellectuals who have long rejected America’s liberal traditions—and now dominate the halls of power.
—Laura K. Field, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
House Republicans rejected Kemp’s signature tax rebate plan that called for sending up to $500 checks to Georgia taxpayers.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
But Hopkins’ ordinance failed to move forward last month when his own allies rejected a last-minute compromise reached with the Johnson administration.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by California Republicans to block a newly redrawn congressional map backed by Democrats and endorsed by voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
—ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
PowerLines tabulated a total of 83 rate requests in 2025, 38 of which are still pending and two of which were rejected.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
More than 300 district judges in Minnesota and elsewhere have so far rejected the government’s mandatory detention policies, ordering detainees released or granted bond hearings.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
That happened recently in Kansas City – where voters rejected a new stadium – and Philadelphia, where the team reversed its decision to build the arena near the city’s Chinatown.
—Gidon Jakar, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
But the reality is that this transformation is the culmination of years of work by niche groups of conservative intellectuals who have long rejected America’s liberal traditions—and now dominate the halls of power.
—Laura K. Field, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
House Republicans rejected Kemp’s signature tax rebate plan that called for sending up to $500 checks to Georgia taxpayers.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 5 Feb. 2026
But Hopkins’ ordinance failed to move forward last month when his own allies rejected a last-minute compromise reached with the Johnson administration.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by California Republicans to block a newly redrawn congressional map backed by Democrats and endorsed by voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
—ABC News, 4 Feb. 2026
PowerLines tabulated a total of 83 rate requests in 2025, 38 of which are still pending and two of which were rejected.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rejected
Adjective
-
The abandoned Westminster Mall has turned into a hotspot for vandalism since shuttering in late 2025, according to police who are attempting to raise awareness about the issue.—
Lesley Marin,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Rogers is shopworker Polly Parrish, who gets mistakenly identified as the parent of an abandoned baby.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Board of Directors denied Buchanan's reappointment to a full five-year term last October.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Hubbard denied the students' accusations.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These claims have been widely refuted by cancer experts, who have publicly stated that there is no scientific evidence or clinical trial data to support them at this time.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Local police and the city manager refuted the claims, saying there was no evidence to support them.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once Trump’s real objective was fulfilled — gain access to Venezuela’s oil — the cartel charge was discarded.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
-
After caring for Gabriel for two and a half months, Weaver felt as though she’d once again been used and discarded—this time by the state.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump subsequently condemned the image but refused to apologize.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Prior to her death, Phillips had refused meals over multiple days while in the Tarrant County Jail.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Plath, the deserted wife of fellow poet Ted Hughes, mother of two young children, died by suicide at age 30, leaving behind a collection of poems that anatomized her mental descent in scorching language that secured a permanent place in American letters.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Each season, the show, which debuted on Netflix in December 2021, leaves a dozen or so attractive single Koreans stranded on a deserted island with few resources.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has also, thus far, declined meeting Pahlavi, who has lived in Washington since his family’s exile in 1979.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, pathways responsible for synthesizing certain B vitamins declined, suggesting the community was reallocating its biochemical resources rather than simply increasing activity across the board.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This conduct goes beyond mere negligence, or medical malpractice — their decision to have their very sick young patient dumped onto the sidewalk — in Phoenix, in August — directly caused Kaelen’s death.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The Fire Sparrow is still in development, but Sherwin said the current iteration can carry 10 gallons of water, which can be trickled along a fire line or dumped in a single spot to put out an emerging fire.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rejected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rejected. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
