as in to refuse
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Recent Examples of abstain
The actor started participating in Dry January in 2022, originally planning to abstain just for the month.
—
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
One older study found that people who drink beer may end up with more mosquito bites than those who abstain from drinking.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
The procedure allows an absent lawmaker — in this case, a new mother — to coordinate with another member voting opposite their stance who is willing to abstain from the vote.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
While that allows Democrats, in theory, to overcome GOP opposition to legislation supported by every Senate Democrat, any Republican senator could abstain from voting, denying Gilchrist the opportunity to vote.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
One older study found that people who drink beer may end up with more mosquito bites than those who abstain from drinking.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
The procedure allows an absent lawmaker — in this case, a new mother — to coordinate with another member voting opposite their stance who is willing to abstain from the vote.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
While that allows Democrats, in theory, to overcome GOP opposition to legislation supported by every Senate Democrat, any Republican senator could abstain from voting, denying Gilchrist the opportunity to vote.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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What isn’t known — and what university and fraternity officials have refused to discuss — is what happened in the basement of the three-story house in the 1300 block of West Campus Road, before the young man lost consciousness.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
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Thomas, alas, can refuse any trade after taking the qualifying offer this summer and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals later rejected a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel against him.—
Amy Yurkanin,
ProPublica,
9 Oct. 2025
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The Senate rejected Democratic and Republican plans to reopen the government Thursday, its seventh attempt to break the stalemate.—
David Lightman,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But a chat message from Washington to a colleague, released to KUOW and ProPublica last week through a public records request, spells out additional reasons for turning down Daugaard’s proposal.—
Ashley Hiruko,
ProPublica,
6 Oct. 2025
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Netanyahu, meanwhile, stands accused of having repeatedly turned down earlier deals with Hamas to appease extreme elements within his fragile coalition government.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shaking in his seat, Dobby initially hesitated to comment on the subject, but then segment anchor Michael Che offered him some encouragement.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Oct. 2025
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The director hesitated to watch the film at the Cannes Classics showing.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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Even groups long noted for opposing nuclear power, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club, seem quietly ready to temporize on practical matters, such as allowing existing plants to continue as transitional energy sources.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harper’s Magazine ,
4 Jan. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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