Spurn: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when forcefully rejecting something with a sense of disdain or contempt.

• She spurned his offer of help, thinking it was insincere
• The artist spurned traditional methods in favor of a more avant-garde approach

Used when refusing to accept, agree to, believe in, or make use of something.

• They rejected the proposal because it was too costly
• She was heartbroken when her application was rejected

Indicates a strong feeling of dislike and disapproval towards someone or something.

• He despises liars more than anything else
• She despised the cold, preferring warm weather

Used when someone considers something or someone as unworthy of respect or attention.

• She looked at the outdated fashion with disdain
• He showed his disdain for the corrupt practices of the government

Expresses a very strong feeling of no respect for someone or something, often accompanied by ridicule.

• He scorns those who cheat in exams
• The critics scorned the movie for its poor storyline

Simply means to pay no attention to someone or something, without necessarily having a negative attitude.

• He ignored the phone call because he was in a meeting
• The teacher ignored the noise outside the classroom

Used to describe rejecting something or someone with disdain or contempt. Often implies a strong sense of disapproval.

• She spurned his advances at the party.
• The proposal was spurned by the board members.

Usually involves hitting something or someone with the foot. It can be used both in neutral and negative contexts.

• She kicked the soccer ball into the goal.
• He was angry and kicked the door in frustration.

Signifies hitting someone or something, often with great force. Can also refer to a sudden action or occurrence, such as a labor strike.

• The worker was struck by a falling object.
• The union decided to strike for better wages.

Refers to hitting something or someone with force or delivering a strong impact. Can also mean a sudden shock or disappointment.

• The boxer delivered a powerful blow to his opponent.
• The loss of the contract was a major blow to the company.

Typically means to kick someone or something forcefully, often to remove them. Can also be used in a figurative sense to mean dismissing someone.

• He booted the ball across the field.
• The manager decided to boot the unproductive employee from the team.