What is spurn? Pronunciation and usage in English

spurn means . Learn how to pronounce and use spurn through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of spurn

spurnverb

/spɜːn//spɜːrn/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "spurn" in English. It's a tricky one because it's not always pronounced the same way! Here's a breakdown of the two main pronunciations and how to do them:

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (British English - often heard in UK TV and movies):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈspɜːrn/ (IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet)

  • Breakdown:

    • ˈsp - Say "sp" like in "spot." It’s a short, crisp sound.
    • ɜː - This is the tricky part. It's a broad "er" sound, similar to the "er" in "bird" or "her." It’s a rounded vowel – your lips should be slightly rounded. It’s not like the "er" in "better."
    • n - A simple "n" sound.

  • Sound Overall: It sounds a bit like "spur-n" with a slightly longer, more drawn-out "er" sound.

2. American English Pronunciation:

  • Pronunciation: /ˈsɜːrn/ (IPA)

  • Breakdown:

    • ˈs – Say “s” like in “sun.”
    • ɜː – Again, the same broad "er" sound as in the British version - "bird," "her."
    • n – A simple "n" sound.

  • Sound Overall: This is a little smoother and quicker than the British pronunciation. It sounds a bit closer to “sern.”

Key Differences & Tips:

  • The "er" sound: This is the most significant difference. Practice with words like "bird," "hurt," “stir,” and "hurt" to get the feel of this vowel.
  • Stress: The first syllable (the 'sp' part) is stressed in BOTH pronunciations.

Resources to Hear the Pronunciation:

  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/spurn/ – This website lets you hear native speakers say the word from different regions.
  • Google Translate: Type “spurn” into Google Translate and click the speaker icon to hear it pronounced.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where did you hear the word? (e.g., a British TV show, an American movie, etc.) This will help me determine which pronunciation is more likely to be appropriate.

Usage and examples with the word spurn in English

Let's break down how to use the word "spurn," as it's a particularly nuanced and somewhat archaic word that can be tricky. It has a few distinct meanings, all related to rejection and dismissal, but with slightly different shades of meaning.

1. To Reject with Disdain (Most Common Usage)

  • Meaning: This is the most common way to use "spurn" today. It means to reject something or someone with contempt, scorn, or a deliberate act of dismissal. It implies a feeling of superiority and a refusal to acknowledge the value of what's being spurned.
  • Synonyms: scorn, dismiss, reject with disdain, flout, turn up one's nose at.
  • Example:
    • "He spurned her offers of help, insisting he could handle everything himself." (He rejected her help with arrogance.)
    • "The country spurned foreign aid, preferring to rely on its own resources." (They rebuffed assistance with disdain.)
    • "She spurned his advances, making it clear she wasn’t interested." (She rejected his invitations with hostility.)

2. To Literally Turn Away Something Small (Literal/Figurative)

  • Meaning: Originally, "spurn" comes from the action of kicking or turning away something small and worthless – a pebble, a leaf, etc. This literal action became a metaphor for rejecting something considered of little value.
  • Example:
    • “He spurned the small, insignificant offering.” (He rejected the offering because he considered it worthless.)
    • "The flowers withered and were subsequently spurned by the wind." (The wind blew them away, treating them as unimportant)

3. (Rare) To Treat with Contempt or Disregard

  • Meaning: Less common now, this refers to treating someone with disregard, often implying a conscious effort to ignore or belittle them.
  • Example:
    • "He spurned her pleas for understanding, refusing to acknowledge her pain." (He disregarded her pleas.) This usage is more dramatic and emphatic than simply "rejecting."

Key Things to Note:

  • Formal Tone: "Spurn" has a more formal and literary feel than words like "reject" or "dismiss." It’s frequently used in writing (especially literature and history) but can sound slightly stilted in everyday conversation.
  • Intensity: "Spurn" carries a stronger emotional weight than many of its synonyms. It suggests a deliberate act of rejection fueled by contempt.
  • Figurative Use is Common: Most modern usage involves the metaphorical meaning (rejecting something as worthless or with disdain).

Here's a table to summarize:

Meaning Example Tone
Reject with Disdain He spurned her advances. Formal, Strong
Literal Rejection He spurned the small pebble. Literal/Figurative
Disregard/Contempt He spurned her pleas for understanding. Formal, Emphatic

Resources for Further Exploration:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • In what context are you trying to use the word "spurn"? (e.g., writing a story, describing a situation, etc.)

Synonyms for the word spurn

Practice with vocabulary spurn

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The ambitious CEO decided to ______ the rival company's takeover bid, deeming it an insult to their market value.
  2. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the jury chose to ______ the defendant's alibi.
  3. Young artists often ______ conventional approaches, seeking innovative paths for creative expression.
  4. After careful consideration, the committee voted to ______ the proposal due to its impractical budget.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (select all that apply)

  1. Which of the following actions might someone take if they feel an offer is beneath them? a) accept gracefully b) grudgingly comply c) spurn d) flatly reject e) eagerly pursue

  2. Despite being given a second chance, he continued to ______ any advice or help offered by his former mentors. a) appreciate b) seek c) spurn d) embrace e) welcome

  3. The manager decided to ______ the employee's request for a significant raise, citing budget constraints. a) approve b) sanction c) reject d) accept e) grant

  4. If a community views a proposed development as harmful and undesirable, they might ______ it. a) embrace b) welcome c) spurn d) oppose e) endorse

  5. The research team made an effort to ______ all irrelevant data points from their analysis. a) include b) incorporate c) omit d) integrate e) retain

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite the sentence using a form of "spurn":

    • Original: She refused the job offer with contempt, feeling it was well below her qualifications.

  2. Rewrite the sentence using a form of "spurn":

    • Original: The kingdom turned its back on the peace treaty, believing it to be a sign of weakness.

  3. Rewrite the sentence using a suitable replacement word (do NOT use "spurn" or its forms):

    • Original: Despite the repeated warnings, he ignored all advice given by his superiors.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. spurn
  2. disregard
  3. spurn
  4. reject

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) spurn, d) flatly reject
  2. c) spurn
  3. c) reject
  4. c) spurn, d) oppose
  5. c) omit

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. She chose to spurn the job offer, deeming it well below her qualifications.
  2. The kingdom decided to spurn the peace treaty, viewing it as a sign of weakness.
  3. Despite the repeated warnings, he disregarded all advice given by his superiors.

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