Synonyms of abstain

abstain

verb

as in to refuse

Related Words

• refuse
• reject
• turn down
• hesitate
• temporize
• delay
• decline
• halt
• stall
• vacillate
• waver
• waffle
• shilly-shally

Dissimilar Words

• choose
• determine
• decide
• resolve
• settle (on or upon)
• opt
• conclude
• figure
• name
• rule
• prefer
• elect
• select
• pick
• decree
• cull
• single (out)
• handpick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abstain

However, this could be reversed if the men stopped using anabolic steroids and continued to abstain from them over the long term. — New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026

If all four of those parties remain united to maintain the firewall against the AfD, and all five BSW lawmakers abstain from the vote, the result would be a tie, and the AfD would still not be able to form a government. — Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2026

The effort, which had major bipartisan support, was abandoned in favor of vote pairing, an informal arrangement where an absent lawmaker coordinates with an opposing lawmaker who agrees to abstain or withhold their vote. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Guests may abstain completely or alternate between alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks during the night. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

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