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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to decline

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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 plan was scrapped after UEFA and several other bodies rejected the plan. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026 Hilton rejects the argument floated by some of his former colleagues that his scruples became a casualty of his ambition. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Noun

At first glance, the collection seemed to be a paean to rejects. — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026 These days, the aviary houses parakeets that are mostly rejects from friends whose kids got bored with them. — Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reject

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reject

Verb

But the other main parties called it a stunt and refused to take part, leaving Farage running against an assortment of independents, jokers and single-issue candidates led by Count Binface, a comic space alien with a trash can on his head.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Despite this, Miller has refused to drop out, holding out past the Monday deadline for Ohio Republicans to nominate a new candidate.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

Alas, this compact between viewer and moviemaker is discarded in most contemporary comic book movies.

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
While the business of cosmetically modified, futuristic-looking pets remains in its infancy, animal rights groups worry that eventually the creatures will be created, sold and later discarded in crowded municipal shelters.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of discard

Verb

Farage did not give a victory speech after declining to attend the declaration, claiming police had warned of a campaign to disrupt it.

— Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
And the university, which declined an interview request about the new program, is not the first to offer content creation courses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of decline

Noun

Those accused became social outcasts, leading to eviction notices from landlords, pink slips, club membership revocation and divorces.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
As Davud is drawn back into addiction, Shams grows increasingly isolated among the building’s workers, veterans and outcasts.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of outcast

Noun

Indeed, both candidates prefer the hard work of actually governing over performative posturing, modeling a deliberate rejection of the political fringes.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Not as a rejection of his background, but as an expansion of what that background can hold.

— Advertorial, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rejection

Verb

The museum also refuted claims of adverse working conditions.

— Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Experts refute these claims, saying that modern vaccines actually target fewer antigens (immune-stimulating proteins) than older versions and that kids are exposed to far more antigens in their daily lives.

— Erika Edwards, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of refute

Verb

Forecasters warn Lala could dump up to 25 inches of rain on steep terrain, driving life-threatening flooding, mudslides, storm surge and dangerous surf that imperil rural residents and key agricultural areas.

— Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
The storm was expected to dump more than a foot of rain on much of the Big Island, with isolated amounts over 2 feet possible.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of reject

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