Ablehnenden

Ablehnenden is a German noun used to denote people who reject or oppose proposals, decisions, or statements in a discussion or decision-making process. It is formed from the verb ablehnen (to reject) with the participle suffix -end, and when used as a noun it is capitalized: Die Ablehnenden.

In use, the term can refer to a specific group within a debate (for example, a faction that opposes a policy) or to a general attitude characterized by rejection. It often appears in scholarly or analytical writing in contrast to terms like Befürwortenden or Zustimmenden, which denote those who support or approve. Phrases such as die ablehnenden Positionen or die Ablehnenden argumentieren, dass... are typical, though the construction can vary with case and article.

Linguistically, ablehnend functions as an adjective meaning "rejecting" or "refusing," and when nominalized to refer to people, the plural form Ablehnenden designates the individuals who reject. The term carries a neutral descriptive potential, but its evaluative connotation depends on context and tone of the discussion.

Related concepts include Ablehnung (rejection), Ablehnungsgründe (reasons for rejection), and Abweisung. In discourse analysis, the term helps distinguish attitudes and stances within debates, policies, or organizational decisions by identifying those who oppose rather than support proposed measures.