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spurn — to reject with contempt or disdain; to refuse or decline

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to reject with contempt or disdain; to refuse or decline

Pronunciation (IPA): /spɜːrn/

Example Sentences

  • The proud cat spurned the cheap cat food and walked away with its tail high.
  • He spurned the company's generous offer to work for a competitor.
  • The celebrity spurned the paparazzi's questions like a boss rejecting terrible PowerPoint presentations.

spurn

VERB

[/spɜːrn/]

to reject with contempt or disdain; to refuse or decline

While the humble man offered a gold ring on his knees, the arrogant princess slapped it away to spurn his proposal.
💡 Concept

While the humble man offered a gold ring on his knees, the arrogant princess slapped it away to spurn his proposal.

SPUR(kick) + N(no) — by using his boot to SPUR(kick) the treaty away while saying N(no), the angry king managed to spurn the peace offer.
🧠 Mnemonic

SPUR(kick) + N(no) — by using his boot to SPUR(kick) the treaty away while saying N(no), the angry king managed to spurn the peace offer.

Watching the unwanted contract completely burn, the confident artist chose to officially spurn the terrible deal.
🎵 Rhyme

Watching the unwanted contract completely burn, the confident artist chose to officially spurn the terrible deal.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/spɜːrn/
🇬🇧 UK/spɜːn/

🌳Etymology

Rootspurn

Origin

From Old English 'spurnan' meaning 'to kick with the foot.' The meaning evolved from the physical act of kicking something away to the metaphorical sense of rejecting or refusing something with contempt.

Breakdown

spurn (root meaning 'to kick away/reject') - no clear prefix or suffix breakdown, derives as a complete word from Old English

🎵Rhyme

burn
turn
learn
stern

🔗Collocations

spurn advances
spurn an offer
spurn help
spurn advice
spurn love

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The proud cat spurned the cheap cat food and walked away with its tail high.”

“He spurned the company's generous offer to work for a competitor.”

😄 Fun example

“The celebrity spurned the paparazzi's questions like a boss rejecting terrible PowerPoint presentations.”

“She spurned all attempts at reconciliation after the betrayal.”

📚Related Words

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