as in to refuse
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Recent Examples of abstain
Festivities and rituals build in intensity over Holy Week, culminating in an eight-hour, overnight service that ends with the breaking of a 55-day fast in which believers abstain from meat and animal products.
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ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Those fasting must abstain from consuming meat.
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Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
Hegseth promised to abstain if he was confirmed.
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Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Organizers advised people to abstain from engaging with counter protesters and stick together as the event began to unfold.
—
Alex Gladden,
Oklahoman,
28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abstain
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
Those fasting must abstain from consuming meat.
—
Mariyam Muhammad,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
Hegseth promised to abstain if he was confirmed.
—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Organizers advised people to abstain from engaging with counter protesters and stick together as the event began to unfold.
—
Alex Gladden,
Oklahoman,
28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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Wurth saw two more physicians who refused to discuss hormones before a urologist started her on estrogen gel, oral progesterone and a vaginal estrogen cream.
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The man had a gun and refused to drop it when ordered to by police, the sheriff said.
Verb
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Those seeking to stop the roundup reject almost all of the federal agencies’ claims, from the size of the herd to the notion that the horses cause ecological damage.
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While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
Verb
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If anything, the future Hall of Famer sure appeared to enjoy his time back home, which was a major reason why Leonard initially turned down a royal life in Canada to play for Southern California’s other team.
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The Pima County Sheriff's Office turned down help in the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie from the United Cajun Navy, the organization claimed.
Verb
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When King asked if the unnamed celebrity was the one, Brown didn't hesitate.
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The girls don’t hesitate to lay into him either with Trinity, Melanie, and Aniya all coming to Kenzie’s impassioned defense.
Verb
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Assad lied and temporized, the official said.
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Accompanying these principles must be a rejection of the impulse to temporize about the dangers that confront us and a rejection of the bizarre deprecation of our nation and civilization.
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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