balk

As the days wore on, Xhudo said, dealers who once balked at matching his best offer called back and said they could do better.

The University of Michigan and other schools are balking, so the deal is on hold.

Senior executives initially balked, casting obesity as a problem of self-control and exercise rather than a disease amenable to medication.

Welty balked at this suggestion, which would have undone a carefully constructed scene: “Ugh! How far could such ‘editing’ lead?

Some dealmakers and executives see paths to lobby the White House for their deal’s approval even when antitrust cops balk.