Synonyms of abandoning

abandoning

verb

present participle of abandon

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

• indulging
• surrendering
• yielding
• delivering
• giving up
• overdoing
• reveling
• basking
• overindulging
• wallowing
• rolling
• luxuriating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• denying
• eschewing
• forgoing
• refraining (from)
• abstaining (from)
• checking
• restraining
• inhibiting
• forbearing

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

• leaving
• forsaking
• deserting
• dumping
• stranding
• quitting
• ditching
• discarding
• marooning
• relinquishing
• walking away from
• flinging
• shedding
• escaping
• scrapping
• jettisoning
• renouncing
• ignoring
• sacrificing
• rejecting
• vacating
• walking out on
• surrendering
• repudiating
• junking
• forgetting
• throwing away
• withdrawing (from)
• retreating (from)
• neglecting
• disregarding
• separating (from)
• yielding
• disowning
• taking off (from)
• throwing out
• delivering
• cutting off
• abjuring
• distancing
• giving up
• shucking (off)
• handing over

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• having
• retaining
• keeping
• owning
• holding
• possessing
• reclaiming
• reserving
• withholding
• saving
• harboring
• rescuing
• redeeming

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

• canceling
• scrapping
• revoking
• aborting
• repealing
• rescinding
• recalling
• withdrawing
• scrubbing
• dropping
• terminating
• reversing
• suspending
• calling
• halting
• calling off
• ending
• invalidating
• abrogating
• interrupting
• retracting
• nullifying
• discontinuing
• annulling
• stopping
• voiding
• crying off
• relinquishing
• writing off
• taking back
• recanting
• surrendering
• rolling back
• breaking off
• countermanding
• holding back
• giving up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuing
• keeping
• engaging
• beginning
• starting
• promising
• initiating
• commencing
• pledging
• undertaking
• taking up
• taking on

4

as in discontinuing

to stop doing (something) permanently

marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discontinuing
• quitting
• dropping
• ending
• finishing
• ceasing
• concluding
• having done (with)
• packing (up or in)
• giving up
• laying off (of)
• halting
• closing
• pausing
• hanging it up
• knocking off
• expiring
• terminating
• shutting off
• breaking off
• tapering off
• breaking up
• leaving off
• throwing up
• wrapping up
• winding up
• rounding (off or out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• maintaining
• continuing
• keeping
• going
• carrying on
• keeping up
• persisting
• running on
• hanging on
• preserving
• holding on
• renewing
• hanging in
• staying
• resuming
• reopening
• starting
• persevering
• beginning
• commencing
• restarting
• following through (with)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abandoning

Yet becoming independent rarely means abandoning the parent company’s entire incentive framework. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026

Most of the royal family is not willing to be seen with him in public, so Fergie isn’t the only one allegedly abandoning him. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 Oct. 2026

The protestors accuse Kumar of abandoning his constitutional obligation to act impartially. — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026

Schottenheimer has faced questions throughout the week around the offense handling pressure, abandoning the run early in games, not finding explosive plays and more. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

The firm, Ryder Scott, refused to sign off on the figure, ultimately abandoning its work, and didn't provide comment to AP. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

California retains major advantages — talent, research universities, industry clusters and global-market access — but faces pressure to ease costs without abandoning protections and services. — Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Several companies showed off their latest attempts to bring pinball into virtual reality without abandoning physical controls, letting players wear a VR helmet while pressing real buttons on a pedestal setup. — ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026

The change is less about abandoning showrooms than reconsidering when and how to use them. — Yiling Pan, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026