Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

abandon

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of abandon

carefree freedom from constraint
  • She added spices to the stew with complete abandon.
Synonyms of abandon

abandonment, ease, lightheartedness, naturalness, spontaneity, spontaneousness, unconstraint, uninhibitedness, unrestraint
Words Related to abandon

ardor, enthusiasm, exuberance, fervor, spirit, warmth, zeal, zealotry, zealousness

carelessness, heedlessness, impulsiveness, indiscretion, insouciance, recklessness, thoughtlessness

unself-consciousness

casualness, offhandedness

excess, excessiveness, immoderacy, indulgence, intemperance, licentiousness, permissiveness, wantonness, wildness

blank check, free hand
Near Antonyms of abandon

embarrassment, reserve, reticence, self-consciousness, uneasiness

inhibition, repression, self-restraint, suppression

carefulness, discreetness, discretion, heedfulness

discipline, self-command, self-control, self-denial, self-discipline, self-mastery, willpower
Antonyms of abandon

constraint, restraint

abandon

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of abandon

1 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 of abandon

deliver, give up, indulge, surrender, yield
Words Related to abandon

overdo, overindulge

bask, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallow
Near Antonyms of abandon

abstain (from), eschew, forbear, forgo (also forego), refrain (from)

check, inhibit, restrain
Antonyms of abandon

deny
2 to cause to remain behind
  • He abandoned the group that he had been hiking with and struck out on his own.
Synonyms of abandon

desert, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand
Words Related to abandon

discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out

deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield

escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from)

abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from)
Phrases Synonymous with abandon

walk away from, walk out on
Near Antonyms of abandon

harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold

redeem, rescue, save
Antonyms of abandon

reclaim
3 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
  • The bad weather forced NASA to abandon the launch.
Synonyms of abandon

abort, call, call off, cancel, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrub
Words Related to abandon

abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off

recant, retract, take back, withdraw

countermand, reverse, roll back

break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate

hold back, interrupt, suspend

give up, relinquish, surrender
Near Antonyms of abandon

engage, pledge, promise

begin, commence, initiate, start

take on, take up, undertake
Antonyms of abandon

continue, keep
4 to stop doing (something) permanently
  • customs that were abandoned decades ago
Synonyms of abandon

discontinue, drop, give up, knock off, lay off (of), pack (up or in), quit
Words Related to abandon

break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, end, expire, finish, halt, leave off, shut off

pause, taper off

throw up

round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up
Phrases Synonymous with abandon

hang it up, have done (with)
Near Antonyms of abandon

go, run on

hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist

follow through (with)

renew, reopen, restart, resume

preserve, stay

begin, commence, start
Antonyms of abandon

carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain

Synonym Discussion of abandon

abandon, desert, forsake mean to leave without intending to return. abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection.
    • abandoned children
desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence.
    • a deserted town
forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers.
    • a forsaken lover

synonyms see in addition relinquish

Learn More about abandon

  1. Dictionary: Definition of abandon Spanish Central: Translation of abandon Nglish: Translation of abandon for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of abandon for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up abandon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games