1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leave
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 to cancel
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 to discontinue
to stop doing (something) permanently
marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abandonment
carefree freedom from constraint
added spices to the stew with complete abandon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 abandon
Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
If unable to reach a secure shelter, either crouch down in your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2025
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024
Express yourself with wild abandon while the sun opposes Uranus.
—USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for abandon
Verb
But what is really catastrophic is what appears to be America abandoning its role as the leader of the free world allowing individuals like Putin and his ilk to intimidate and invade other sovereign areas without worrying about the consequences.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
If unable to reach a secure shelter, either crouch down in your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
That sense of giddy creative abandon was palpable throughout.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024
Express yourself with wild abandon while the sun opposes Uranus.
—USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for abandon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandon
Verb
-
In a 2018 interview with Stereogum, after announcing their disbandment, Minus the Bear elaborated on their decision to call it quits at the time, citing an uptick in life events, spending time with their families, facing differing creative attitudes, and indulging the possibility of new paths.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2025
-
As Jaclyn tries to encourage (mock?) divorcee Laurie into having a fling at the resort with one of the staff members, Laurie is visibly torn between indulging her own desires and proving her friends’ pity to be misplaced.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
So who ended up getting married, and who was left hanging?—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The result was that when Biden came in, the Afghan army was broken in spirit, and the Taliban had brokered surrender deals with local Afghan commanders, and only had to wait for the U.S. to leave.—
Jamie McIntyre,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
South Korean law allows prosecutors to continue to hold a suspect while pursuing an appeal, even after the suspect's arrest is canceled by a court.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Ten days later, Netflix canceled Centineo’s series, The Recruit, after two seasons.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The company discontinued operations of its subsidiary Race Day Mortgage, Inc. in December 2023 due to low loan demand and lack of profitability.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
14 Mar. 2025
-
TikTokers posted about rumors that the cake slices were being discontinued and that the full cakes would stick to the original recipe.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Studies show that children exposed to abuse or high-conflict environments often develop a fear of abandonment and rejection, which can lead to complex trauma or borderline personality disorder.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Memoir My Abyss Patrick Cottrell Obsession will always be an attractive fresh hell for a person like me, a product of abandonment with a longing for attachment.—
Max Ufberg,
hazlitt.net,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Nets also surrendered three straight 3-pointers to Vincent, Luka Doncic and Dalton Knecht over the final 2:29 of the third quarter.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 2025
-
After an hour, the man surrendered to police but bit an officer on the arm, police said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But that doesn’t mean forsaking the forecast and the threat of more dipping temperatures to come.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2025
-
After he was traded to the team in 2005, the Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson forsook his own Mississippi Mudflap, becoming business-in-the-front-business-in-the-back, which might as well be the Yankees’ motto.—
Steve Rushin,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Shortly after the editorial page decision was announced nearly two weeks ago, another Post story on the issue, by media columnist Erik Wemple, was scrapped, according to the Gene Pool, a blog written by former Post writer Gene Weingarten.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Trump Should Work with Congress on BSA Reform Congress could amend the BSA to maintain its record-keeping requirements while scrapping its reporting requirements.—
Norbert Michel,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abandon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandon. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share