1
as in indulging
to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly
more than ready to abandon himself to a life of complete idleness for the duration of his vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaving
to cause to remain behind
abandoned the group that he had been hiking with and struck out on his own
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cancelling
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
the bad weather forced NASA to abandon the launch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in discontinuing
to stop doing (something) permanently
marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abandoning
Witnesses claimed that after France’s embarrassing loss to Haiti, the French government retaliated by confiscating Ferdinand’s belongings and abandoning the child to an orphanage.
—
Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Each note testified to the transformation of a society opening to the future without abandoning its roots.
—Billboard Arabia, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
That means abandoning traditional budgeting and building up only what is essential.
—Daniel Schmeltz, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
The Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied a precarious position for the next three years, cut off from the world, until a final offensive in 2023 sent nearly all 100,000+ residents fleeing into Armenia, abandoning an area Armenians had occupied for several millennia.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Although the president’s topline numbers remain relatively stable, crucial independent voters seem to be abandoning the president, with a YouGov poll for The Economist showing the president’s approval among them at a miserable 33%.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Apart from bringing Eagly along, Chris himself doesn’t seem to have any doubts about abandoning his old life entirely.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Leaning into Cracker Barrel’s nostalgic comfort, rather than abandoning it, is the right recipe to bring in a whole new generation of customers.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The girls said the shooter put them in Pamela Johnson’s vehicle and fled the scene before abandoning the car with them inside, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Each note testified to the transformation of a society opening to the future without abandoning its roots.
—Billboard Arabia, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
That means abandoning traditional budgeting and building up only what is essential.
—Daniel Schmeltz, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
The Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh occupied a precarious position for the next three years, cut off from the world, until a final offensive in 2023 sent nearly all 100,000+ residents fleeing into Armenia, abandoning an area Armenians had occupied for several millennia.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025
Although the president’s topline numbers remain relatively stable, crucial independent voters seem to be abandoning the president, with a YouGov poll for The Economist showing the president’s approval among them at a miserable 33%.
—David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Apart from bringing Eagly along, Chris himself doesn’t seem to have any doubts about abandoning his old life entirely.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Leaning into Cracker Barrel’s nostalgic comfort, rather than abandoning it, is the right recipe to bring in a whole new generation of customers.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The girls said the shooter put them in Pamela Johnson’s vehicle and fled the scene before abandoning the car with them inside, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandoning
Verb
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How did Chanel maintain her gamine figure while regularly indulging there?—
Leslie Camhi,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Nominally, this is a feel-good redemption drama, though Perry can’t help indulging some darker impulses as well.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The latest incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the 29-year-old suspect, identified by federal authorities as Joshua Jahn of Fairview, Texas, opened fire on a Dallas ICE facility, killing a detainee and leaving two others critically wounded, officials said.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
26 Sep. 2025
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Benjamin Guinness has died, leaving chaos and his towering brewery behind.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some are discontinuing various product lines, and others are cutting workers or closing altogether.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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Carlson asked the state’s environmental agency about the protocol for discontinuing treatment and was told to keep the state posted.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many progressives at the time saw that as surrendering leverage for nothing concrete.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Dancing, to me, is surrendering.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tomorrow belonged to individuals who broke the rules, forsaking protocol to act inventively.—
Angus Fletcher,
Big Think,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Real estate may be the basis of all wealth, but a growing number of millionaires are forsaking homeownership and renting their residences instead.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While automakers are putting off and/or cancelling vehicles that only run on electrons, given high development costs and a weak market, Subaru is confident in the direction it is headed.—
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Many subscribers of Disney, ABC’s parent firm, protested the move, with some cancelling their streaming service subscriptions and hundreds marching at Disney’s Burbank office last week.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In her new book, Priscilla Presley recounts an allegedly harrowing ordeal her late daughter dealt with after quitting Scientology, Page Six first reported.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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Reports have emerged of individuals quitting their jobs, selling possessions, and even pulling children out of school in preparation for the event.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The director provided no indication what his next big-screen project would be after scrapping The Critic back in April 2024.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
28 Sep. 2025
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Congress is ending tax benefits for solar, and the administration is scrapping a $7 billion program that helped low-income families install rooftop panels.—
Ivan Penn,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abandoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandoning. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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