spurn
Americanverb (used with object)
-
spurns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spurned,
past participle, past
-
spurning
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
spurns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
spurned,
past participle, past
-
spurning
present participle
noun
-
disdainful rejection.
-
contemptuous treatment.
- Synonyms:
- contumely
-
a kick.
verb
-
to reject (a person or thing) with contempt
-
archaic to kick (at)
noun
-
an instance of spurning
-
archaic a kick or thrust
Synonym Usage
See refuse 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
spurnsimple
-
spurnssimple
-
have spurnedperfect
-
has spurnedperfect
-
am spurningprogressive
-
are spurningprogressive
-
is spurningprogressive
-
have been spurningperfect progressive
-
has been spurningperfect progressive
Past
-
spurnedsimple
-
had spurnedperfect
-
was spurningprogressive
-
were spurningprogressive
-
had been spurningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of spurn
First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English spurnen, Old English spurnan; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German spurnan, Old Norse sporna “to kick”; akin to Latin spernere “to put away”; (noun) Middle English: “a kick, contemptuous stroke,” derivative of the verb
Explanation
If you reject your mother's offer to buy you a pair of lederhosen with a snort and eye roll, you are spurning her generosity. To spurn means to reject with disdain. Originally, to spurn was to kick away. Though it's not used in that context so often anymore, being spurned still feels like a kick in the gut. You can reject someone kindly, or let them down easily, but you can't spurn someone with anything but malice.
Vocabulary lists containing spurn
Dissed List: Breakup Words for Valentine's Day
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Grade 11, List 4
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
More Americans were expected to spurn pricier steaks and burgers in favor of cheaper chicken.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Heteropessimism exists alongside heterosexuality not because being straight is terrible or embarrassing or out of fashion, but because it is, first and foremost, an institution — one that in many places remains dangerous to spurn.
From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026
Florida State: You’ll find the Seminoles closer to the top here than in other post-spring forecasts, largely because of our faith in coach Mike Norvell to turn the playoff spurn into seasonlong emotional propulsion.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
He still felt he could win and he did not want to spurn the opportunity.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2024
That she would spurn me for leaving her alone in the woods.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
The story of the first Carthaginian queen, Dido, was co-opted by the Roman poet Virgil, whose hero, Aeneas, spurns her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026
Chiedozie Ogbene spurns a great chance to give the Irish an early lead - he's fed down the left and sprints into the box before smashing into the side netting.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2024
In the ancient Greek tale of Narcissus, a young hunter, admired for his unmatched beauty, spurns many who love and pursue him.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 16, 2023
Valeria plans an elaborate birthday tea for Mirella, who spurns the offer.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 2, 2023
As I have said, mere ordinary truthfulness, which spurns any conscious deception, will not save us from falling into such faults.
From Scientific Culture, and Other Essays Second Edition; with Additions by Josiah Parsons Cooke
But landing another face-to-face exchange will take convincing a North Korean leader who has spurned U.S. outreach in recent years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
The announcement comes after North Korea has repeatedly spurned South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's dovish overtures, labelling Seoul its "most hostile" enemy and declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear state.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Directors of London-listed DCC, who spurned the bidders’ April approach, said last month that they are “minded to recommend” the higher offer to shareholders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
The 27-year-old had a goal disallowed on Monday after Doue was offside in the build-up, and he also spurned a number of chances as Olise stole the headlines.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
They resisted the smile and spurned the offer.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
The Rams grew nervy, spurning chances to build their lead.
From Barron's ● Jan. 11, 2026
Francis also gave the papacy a less formal and more approachable image by spurning regal attire, riding in compact cars and making headlines with blunt comments at news conferences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 23, 2025
After spurning BHP’s advances last year, Anglo American announced a proposed merger with Canada’s Teck Resources in September that would value the pro forma entity at around $60 billion using today’s share prices.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 24, 2025
But after spurning a second match point and saving a break point, Raducanu completed the victory at the third attempt, winning the second set 6-2.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
Then he leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.
From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien
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