as in refusal
the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired
the couple's sudden abnegation of life in the fast lane for work as missionaries stunned everyone
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Recent Examples of abnegation
Not one for false abnegation of words distorted by smears, Rushdie doubles down on his right to freedom of expression, defending his dissent from religious orthodoxy.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
That, for me, feels like an abnegation of our responsibility in theater.
—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnegation
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
That, for me, feels like an abnegation of our responsibility in theater.
—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abnegation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abnegation
Noun
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The Ducks have seven days to exercise their right of first refusal on the player, per the NHL collective bargaining agreement.
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Republican hardliners jammed up the House floor this week, in part because of congressional leadership's refusal to attach a version of the election bill, dubbed the SAVE America Act, to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Noun
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Rules have changed over decades, so some claims succeed while others face hurdles like formal renunciation.
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Carney is a moralist, a filmmaker of fidelity—and of renunciation, depicting the romantic near-misses and what-ifs that his characters leave behind.
Noun
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One reason Pharis has been so vocal online is to fight back against the shame and denial that drive so many to withhold their HIV status from others.
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Between 2016 and 2023, claim denials increased from 9% to 12%.
Cite this Entry
“Abnegation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abnegation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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