as in to refuse
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Recent Examples of abstain
That doesn’t mean Dumars and Weaver will abstain from activity before the trade deadline.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
As Worthington previously told Entertainment Weekly, Neteyam's death serves to activate a fighter's spirit in Jake, who's been trying to abstain from battle.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
New guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises that people abstain from cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation and recommends that providers ask all of their patients about cannabis use before, during and after pregnancy to help avoid potential risks.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Galicia Lopez was also ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, pay $370 in fines and fees and pay restitution in an amount to be determined in the future, prosecutors added.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
As Worthington previously told Entertainment Weekly, Neteyam's death serves to activate a fighter's spirit in Jake, who's been trying to abstain from battle.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
New guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises that people abstain from cannabis use during pregnancy and lactation and recommends that providers ask all of their patients about cannabis use before, during and after pregnancy to help avoid potential risks.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Galicia Lopez was also ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, pay $370 in fines and fees and pay restitution in an amount to be determined in the future, prosecutors added.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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The world’s diplomats must refuse to seat or recognise Min Aung Hlaing or his representatives at any summit or ministerial meeting.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
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Some of the girls were hired as servants in the homes of higher-status Burghers, though Rustin refused on principle to consider it.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And the British nations, as ever, remained aloof, England rejecting a late offer to step in for Austria.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Democrats are pushing to extend soon-to-expire health care tax credits and reverse earlier Medicaid cuts, but Republicans have rejected those proposals.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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People have to show they’ve been turned down by at least three companies.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
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Haddish had auditioned for Saturday Night Live multiple times and been turned down.—
Zak Cheney-Rice,
Vulture,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But Maye doesn’t hesitate to break the pocket and scramble towards daylight when things break down.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Many people like the idea of innovation but hesitate to share the road with fully autonomous vehicles.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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.—
Peter J. Travers,
National Review,
29 Mar. 2022
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Even groups long noted for opposing nuclear power, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club, seem quietly ready to temporize on practical matters, such as allowing existing plants to continue as transitional energy sources.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harper’s Magazine ,
4 Jan. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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