spurned
Americanadjective
verb
Other Word Forms
- unspurned adjective
Etymology
Origin of spurned
Explanation
Someone who's spurned has been abandoned or rejected, usually by a romantic interest. If your significant other breaks up with you unexpectedly, you might feel spurned. It's not easy to be a spurned lover, since the adjective implies total rejection by someone you love. A spurned groom, for example, might wait at the church on his wedding day for a bride who never shows up. The Old English root word of spurned makes this rejection pretty clear: spurnan means "to kick away, reject, scorn, or despise."
Vocabulary lists containing spurned
Happy Birthday, James Joyce!
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Words to Celebrate West Virginia!
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"Watched" by Marina Budhos, Chapters 10–12
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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.
January arrival Tomas Cvancara spurned multiple chances after Yang Hyun-jun's opener and Dundee took advantage as Simon Murray equalised with a second-half penalty.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
When the singer put out “Red Rose Speedway” in 1973, the Village Voice spurned it as “possibly the worst album ever made by a rock and roller of the first rank.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
Discovery is cracking open the door to allow spurned bidder, Paramount Skydance, to make its case — but Warner’s board still maintains its preference for Netflix’s competing proposal.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026
Villarreal had the better of the second half as they worked hard to pull level, but Moreno spurned their best chance by firing inches over when well-placed.
From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026
“Tis whispered that she loves the young English artist who haunts her steps, and is spurned by the old Count,” said the lady, as they joined the dance.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
