as in to refuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abstain
This year, Herbst abstained from a Feb. 4 commission vote that allows Bahia Mar to sell food and alcoholic beverages on the sand.
—
Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
The rules include abstaining from substances that are already forbidden by the LDS Church, practicing chastity, forgoing the use of profanity and following a dress code that prohibits men from wearing beards or goatees and requires skirts to be no shorter than knee-length.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
Trump has abstained from making security guarantees beyond an unsigned critical minerals agreement that would benefit the U.S. financially if private companies invest in Ukraine's natural resources.
—Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
These 40 days of Lent guide Catholics to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.
—Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
The rules include abstaining from substances that are already forbidden by the LDS Church, practicing chastity, forgoing the use of profanity and following a dress code that prohibits men from wearing beards or goatees and requires skirts to be no shorter than knee-length.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
Trump has abstained from making security guarantees beyond an unsigned critical minerals agreement that would benefit the U.S. financially if private companies invest in Ukraine's natural resources.
—Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
These 40 days of Lent guide Catholics to abstain from eating meat on Fridays.
—Chrissy Suttles, Axios, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
-
Kylie said Jason refused to let the name just be Finn and insisted on Finnley.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Read Next National Company refused to hire women as AL security officers, feds say.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
There are plenty of glaring examples, such as Steve Jobs and Google being rejected by some of the world’s most renowned VCs (https://www.bvp.com/anti-portfolio).—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Superior Court Judge Craig Collins from neighboring Gaston county also rejected it after Tench’s friends and family — his mother, sister and aunts — submitted and read aloud letters underlining the effect Tench’s disappearance and apparent death have had.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
That request was turned down, with a trial slated to start in September.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Puerto Rican label Rimas Entertainment is perhaps the biggest indie success story in Latin music; founded in 2014 by Noah Assad, it’s been the longtime home of Boricua superstar Bad Bunny, who has enjoyed an unprecedented level of success despite turning down multiple offers from major labels.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, the didn't appear to be the case for Colton, who hesitated to answer before last week's episode concluded.—
Dory Jackson,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Touching on directing and managing the top teams at Nudie Jeans, Levin doesn’t hesitate.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Romney's Cass took Obama to task for opposing development of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and for temporizing on the Keystone pipeline, while Obama's Aldy accused Romney of being insensitive to the environment and to the needs and desires of future generations.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2012
-
Accompanying these principles must be a rejection of the impulse to temporize about the dangers that confront us and a rejection of the bizarre deprecation of our nation and civilization.—
Peter J. Travers,
National Review,
29 Mar. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share