Looking for synonyms for say no? We’ve got you covered!
Here’s a list of other ways to say say no.
- Decline
- Refuse
- Reject
- Deny
- Turn down
- Disagree
- Disapprove
- Withhold consent
- Veto
- Disallow
- Repudiate
- Resist
- Rebuff
- Spurn
- Renounce
- Dismiss
- Negate
- Nix
- Object
- Forgo
Want to learn how to say say no professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.
1. Decline
Appropriate for politely refusing offers or invitations.
Example: “She had to decline the invitation to speak at the conference due to prior commitments.”
2. Refuse
Used when firmly or formally saying no to a request, offer, or suggestion.
Example: “He refused the competitor’s offer to collaborate on the project.”
3. Reject
Suitable for clearly turning down proposals, applications, or ideas.
Example: “The committee decided to reject the proposal due to budget constraints.”
4. Deny
Used in the context of denying permission, requests, or assertions.
Example: “The manager denied the request for additional funding for the project.”
5. Turn Down
A polite and common way of saying no to offers or invitations.
Example: “Despite the attractive job offer, she chose to turn it down to stay with her current employer.”
6. Disagree
Appropriate for expressing a differing opinion or refusal to go along with a suggestion.
Example: “The board members disagreed with the strategy suggested by the marketing team.”
7. Disapprove
Used when not giving approval or consent, often in formal contexts.
Example: “The regulatory body disapproved the new drug, citing insufficient testing.”
8. Withhold Consent
Appropriate in formal or legal contexts where consent is not given.
Example: “The CEO decided to withhold consent for the new policy until further review.”
9. Veto
Used in contexts where someone has the power to stop or cancel a decision or proposal.
Example: “The president vetoed the committee’s decision as it was not in line with the company’s values.”
10. Disallow
Appropriate for formally or officially saying no, often in legal or rule-based contexts.
Example: “The court disallowed the evidence as it was obtained unlawfully.”
11. Repudiate
Used for rejecting an idea, proposal, or course of action, often strongly.
Example: “The company repudiated the allegations of unethical practices in its operations.”
12. Resist
Suitable for expressing opposition or refusal to comply.
Example: “She resisted the pressure to change the financial report’s findings.”
13. Rebuff
Used when harshly or brusquely rejecting someone’s advances or proposals.
Example: “His suggestion for a quick fix was rebuffed by the engineering team.”
14. Spurn
A strong term for rejecting something with disdain or contempt.
Example: “The board spurned the hostile takeover bid, considering it undervalued.”
15. Renounce
Appropriate for formally or publicly saying no or distancing oneself from an idea or course of action.
Example: “He renounced the controversial tactics used by his campaign team.”
16. Dismiss
Used for rejecting something as unworthy of consideration.
Example: “The manager dismissed the idea of cutting costs by reducing staff welfare.”
17. Negate
Suitable for nullifying or invalidating a suggestion, statement, or idea.
Example: “Her findings negated the earlier assumptions about the market trends.”
18. Nix
An informal term for stopping, preventing, or saying no to something.
Example: “The team nixed the idea of working overtime to meet the deadline.”
19. Object
Used for expressing disagreement or opposition.
Example: “Several employees objected to the proposed changes in the work schedule.”
20. Forgo
Appropriate for choosing not to take or do something.
Example: “Given the risks, the company decided to forgo the expansion into the volatile market.”
