A female may act demur but she can be plotting your sudden death owing to your stupid obedience.
Source: tatoeba (10890301)
Demur
/dɪˈmɜː/
Synonyms for "demur" (191 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (39)
argueaversionback downbalancebalkbashfulnessbeefbitchblenchbogglebogglingboycottcall in questioncavilchallengecombatcombative reactioncomplaincomplaintcompunction
Show 14 more words
consciencecounteractioncry out againstdebatedeclinedefiancedeliberatedemonstratedemonstrate againstdemonstrationdemurraldemurrerdeprecatedeprecation
Strong matches (57)
differencedifficultydiffidencedisagreementdisapprovaldisapprovedisinclinationdisputedissentdissentienceenter a protestexceptionexpostulateexpostulationfalterfalteringfearfightfight shyfight shy of
Show 28 more words
flinchfractiousnessgaggrievancegrievance committeehang backhang offhave qualmshem and hawhesitancehesitancyhesitatehesitationhold offhollerhoverhowlhum and hawindignation meetingjibkickmake bones aboutmarchmodestynegativismnoncooperationnonviolent protestobject
Related words (95)
objectionobstinacyopposeoppositionpassive resistancepausepicketpicketingponderpress objectionsprotestprotest demonstrationprotestationpull backquailqualmqualm of consciencequalmishnessquestionraise a howl
Show 63 more words
rallyreactionrebuffrecalcitrancerecalcitrancyrecalcitrationrecoilrefractorinessregretreluctanceremonstranceremonstrateremonstrationrenitencerenitencyrepellencerepellencyrepulserepulsionreservationresistresistanceretreatrevoltscruplescrupulosityscrupulousnessshilly shallyshilly-shallyshrinkshrinkingshyshy atshynesssit insit-insquawkstandstate a grievancestickstick atsticklesticklingstop to considerstraddle the fencestrainstrain atstrikestumbleteach inteach-inthink twicethink twice aboutuncooperativenessunwillingnessvacillatevariancewaverwincewithdrawwithstandingyell bloody murderyield
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: argue, aversion, back down, balance, balk.
- Sentence evidence is available for demur, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "demur".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "demur"
Keep "demur" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "demur" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "demur", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "demur" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
12 entriescaveatdelayhesitationinitial hesitationlegal objectionmoral objectionobjectionpauseprocedural objectionrefusalreservationreticence
Collocations
11 entriesclear demurdemur atdemur toexplicit demurexpressed demurformal demurlegal demurlegal demurrerpersistent demurstrong demurwithout demur
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
32 total sentences available.
He asked me to dance, but I replied, "I must demur."
Source: tatoeba (10913626)
I demur to that statement.
Source: wiktionary
The personnel demurred at the management’s new scheme.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 32 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "demur"?
Closest matches include argue, aversion, back down, balance, balk.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "demur"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.