abandon 1 of 2

Definition of abandonnext
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as in to indulge
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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abandon

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abandon different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of abandon are relinquish, resign, surrender, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When might relinquish be a better fit than abandon?

While in some cases nearly identical to abandon, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When can resign be used instead of abandon?

The words resign and abandon can be used in similar contexts, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When is it sensible to use surrender instead of abandon?

The words surrender and abandon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would waive be a reasonable alternative to abandon?

The meanings of waive and abandon largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

In what contexts can yield take the place of abandon?

In some situations, the words yield and abandon are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

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 abandon
Verb
The film opens with 50 new, technologically advanced Buzz Lightyear toys washed up and abandoned on a desert island. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 19 June 2026 Avoid abandoning any fire without supervision. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
Noun
By the moment, midway through the show, when one hockey player tells another that safety is a cornerstone of female desire, my eyes were rolling around in my head with cynical abandon. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 Later works remix art-historical references more subtly but with like-minded abandon. Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for abandon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandon
Verb
  • Onboard, guests can indulge at eight different restaurants, ranging in style from Pan-Asian and French to poolside pizza and a steakhouse.
    Megan duBois, Southern Living, 25 June 2026
  • Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching, playing games or building Lego, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic.
    Chris McMullen, Space.com, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Yet robust economic growth has proved elusive, even as government debt has climbed, leaving successive administrations with little firepower to fix a growing list of related challenges, from crumbling infrastructure to a chronic housing shortage.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • Adis does the right thing and asks to leave the boat.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Concerns about his takeover of traditionally nonpolitical celebrations have led some states to decline participating in Washington events and some entertainers to cancel plans to perform at them.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • Several pre-tournament warmup games were canceled.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Sleep Number has discontinued the i8 and ushered in a new line of mid-range mattresses.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 June 2026
  • Suddenly discontinuing these medications may trigger what is known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Cost Shock At The Wrong Moment Late-stage price add-ons, especially shipping, are the single most common trigger for cart abandonment.
    Vin Sonpal, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Kids end up in foster care due to neglect, abuse or abandonment by their parents or caregivers.
    Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Will Klein surrendered a seventh-inning single to Jackson that sent two baserunners, including one inherited from Dodgers left-hander Jack Dreyer, across the plate.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • An armed suspect surrendered to the California Highway Patrol after an hours-long pursuit through Los Angeles County.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Anguished and alone, Nick is similarly cast away, seemingly cursed to spend the rest of his days forsaken in his hometown, now a foreign land.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Supporters of 2022 World Cup champions Argentina were among the most visible in Doha during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with some saving for four years and forsaking home-buying in order to make the trip.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Commissioners are being asked to scrap that layer of protection.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • Washington and Tehran are working to get technical talks back on track after a postponement that saw US Vice President JD Vance scrap his trip to Switzerland for negotiations.
    Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Abandon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandon. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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