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 canceling
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
Now, following intense backlash from local communities, a series of lawsuits and a leadership shakeup at the Department of Homeland Security, the agency appears to be abandoning the initiative – a dramatic shift away from a plan that had already seen spending upwards of $1 billion.
—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Driven by a growing panic over fast-evolving Chinese tech competitors, the old-world rivals are abandoning the tradition of corporate secrecy.
—
New Atlas,
24 June 2026
That does not mean abandoning disruptive ambitions.
—
Web Golinkin,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans.
—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had said last week that the federal agency was abandoning the project.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
One of Wood’s earliest conversations with Reid centered on abandoning the heeled footwear that helped define earlier versions of the character.
—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Those hoping to attend the game described a frantic scene on social media, with some sharing stories of abandoning their rides, including shuttles and rideshares, and walking to the stadium.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Build bridges without abandoning your brilliant self.
—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Driven by a growing panic over fast-evolving Chinese tech competitors, the old-world rivals are abandoning the tradition of corporate secrecy.
—
New Atlas,
24 June 2026
That does not mean abandoning disruptive ambitions.
—
Web Golinkin,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
Your Petition — filed three business days before the deadline, without any supporting information or documentation, and only after abandoning your recent litigation efforts to avoid NCAA sanctions — does not provide a basis for the League to alter those plans.
—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had said last week that the federal agency was abandoning the project.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
One of Wood’s earliest conversations with Reid centered on abandoning the heeled footwear that helped define earlier versions of the character.
—
Precious Fondren,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Those hoping to attend the game described a frantic scene on social media, with some sharing stories of abandoning their rides, including shuttles and rideshares, and walking to the stadium.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Build bridges without abandoning your brilliant self.
—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandoning
Verb
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Kanaal is king for indulging elevenses hunger pangs, providing cakes, cookies, tea, coffee, and made-to-order traditional Dutch sweets including stroopwafles and puffertjes.
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In addition to streamlining operations and closing underperforming restaurants, Adamolekun and Red Lobster are engaging with customers and indulging their nostalgia.
Verb
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Johnston, Cobbins leaving Johnston’s departure comes just three years after becoming the long-term replacement for former County Administrator Doug Bach, who left the government under an $800,000 separation agreement.
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Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
Verb
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What to pack and how to prepare Kids’ ears are more sensitive than adults’, so bring kid-sized earplugs or noise-canceling headphones.
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In 2024, Joe Biden sailed to the Democratic presidential nomination after a primary process that was little more than a formality, with the Florida Democratic Party even cancelling its primary in March to anoint Biden.
Verb
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Ram brought back the Hemi after discontinuing it just a year prior, and General Motors is rolling out a new generation of small-blocks.
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Suddenly discontinuing these medications may trigger what is known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.
Verb
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After that victory, Makhachev moved up to welterweight, surrendering his 155-pound title.
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Boise’s rough end to May stretched into June, and the first-year club left Madison, Wisconsin, last week surrendering four unanswered goals in the second half for an embarrassing loss.
Verb
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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.
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If bigger and better opportunities come along, striking while the iron is hot is a logical course of action, even when moves sometimes appear to make more sense for financial reasons than footballing ones and forsaking the comfort of operating in a stable environment.
Verb
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Now Starmer is going due to unpopularity, largely self-inflicted, after policy errors including scrapping the pensioners’ winter fuel allowance, hitting small farmers with inheritance tax increases and appointing a close friend of the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as ambassador to Washington.
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But when county staff in March pitched the idea of pausing some future construction projects while reassessing financial realities, multiple commissioners suggested changing up or scrapping the resource center plans due to their high cost.
Verb
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What most people forget is that in 2024, Congress passed a law banning the president from unilaterally quitting NATO without a 60-vote Senate majority or a change in the law.
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Fun platform has seen people pay strangers to perform life-altering tasks, like tattooing meme coins on their foreheads or quitting their jobs.
Cite this Entry
“Abandoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandoning. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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