spurned

American  

[spurnd] / spɜrnd /

adjective

1. treated or rejected with scorn or contempt.

   It should be instructive to us that some of the spurned recommendations were very effective when belatedly implemented years after they were made.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of spurn.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unspurned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of spurned

spurn ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

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."

Example Sentences

Despite no organized opposition, a flurry of cities, as well as the editorial board of the Los Angeles Daily News, have loudly spurned the idea, arguing it will make the region even less affordable.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

He launched an attempt to breed pandas in captivity but, to his despair, London's Chi Chi repeatedly spurned the attentions of Moscow's An An.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

In “Autumn Meeting,” a Budapest seductress beguiles an out-of-work jockey with romantic tales of love spurned.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

On a night Gordon spurned one or two opportunities from open play, there was no chance of him letting go of the ball when he won his side another spot-kick before the break.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

But some areas did not hear that the strike was called off, while others spurned our call.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• decayed
• deserted
• ignored
• overlooked
• undervalued
• unused
• unwanted