as in refused
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
I'm afraid that I will have to turn down your invitation
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Recent Examples of turned down
Doctors’ requests for lab work were often turned down because of logistical hurdles, partly due to the number of agencies working together on the base, the officers said.
—
Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
And on Tuesday, a federal grand jury turned down an effort by the Justice Department to criminally charge Kelly and five other lawmakers over the video, CBS News reported.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
When Manchester United turned down the opportunity for their Amazon documentary last summer, the veto was applied by Ruben Amorim, then the club’s head coach.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Rather than leaning into it, Cort turned down the parts he was being offered, including a spot as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (the part later went to Brad Dourif).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
There was chatter on film forums in the wake of the lineup announcement in January that some of the more high-profile Golden Bear contenders had been turned down by Cannes and Venice.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Berry shared the news with host Jimmy Fallon on Thursday's episode of The Tonight Show, after a recent interview with The Cut garnered headlines that the Monster’s Ball actress turned down a proposal from Hunt last year.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
White, in the final year of his contract, turned down an extension from the Bulls this past offseason, instead choosing to become an unrestricted free agent come June.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
But the court turned down the appeal in a one-line order with no explanation.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
And on Tuesday, a federal grand jury turned down an effort by the Justice Department to criminally charge Kelly and five other lawmakers over the video, CBS News reported.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026
When Manchester United turned down the opportunity for their Amazon documentary last summer, the veto was applied by Ruben Amorim, then the club’s head coach.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Rather than leaning into it, Cort turned down the parts he was being offered, including a spot as Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (the part later went to Brad Dourif).
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
There was chatter on film forums in the wake of the lineup announcement in January that some of the more high-profile Golden Bear contenders had been turned down by Cannes and Venice.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
Berry shared the news with host Jimmy Fallon on Thursday's episode of The Tonight Show, after a recent interview with The Cut garnered headlines that the Monster’s Ball actress turned down a proposal from Hunt last year.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
White, in the final year of his contract, turned down an extension from the Bulls this past offseason, instead choosing to become an unrestricted free agent come June.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
But the court turned down the appeal in a one-line order with no explanation.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turned down
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
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
Verb
-
Police and city leaders declined to comment on her claims when approached by CNN.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The driver and the bicyclist, who was struck, declined to be taken to the hospital.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The first time Helena Morrissey had a child, she was passed up for a promotion.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
McAtamney’s lack of field goal range also played a part in this game because the Giants passed up attempts.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turned down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turned%20down. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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