as in to refuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abstain
The diet does suggest limiting sugar but does not require participants to abstain from sugar completely.
—
Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Although 11 countries abstained from voting, the U.S.'s omission due to its decision to withdraw from the WHO is notable.
—Simon Williams, Time, 21 May 2025
Young recused herself from the vote and Chan abstained.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
As usual, Supervisor Don Chaffee tried to have it both ways and abstained from the vote.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Although 11 countries abstained from voting, the U.S.'s omission due to its decision to withdraw from the WHO is notable.
—Simon Williams, Time, 21 May 2025
Young recused herself from the vote and Chan abstained.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
As usual, Supervisor Don Chaffee tried to have it both ways and abstained from the vote.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
-
The Trump administration has tested the limits of this system by refusing to spend money that Congress had previously allocated.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
25 June 2025
-
Pallone added Kennedy has refused to take public input about vaccines, including his decision to overhaul a vaccine advisory panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
That kind of backlash prompted officials in La Mesa, Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad to reject digital billboard proposals.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2025
-
This can manifest into an AI tool that ends up rejecting qualified job candidates because it was trained on biased data.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
-
The latter ultimately turns down Geneviève and tries to win Emily back after learning that she’s moved to Italy.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
25 June 2025
-
This isn’t just the opinion of some cantankerous Boomers who want those pesky Gen-Z kids to turn down their loud music and get off the lawn; globally, study after study has demonstrated that Gen-Z has historically low financial literacy levels.—
Benjamin van der Lande,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
If the emotional impact of hair loss feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to ask for support.—
Health,
Health,
26 June 2025
-
Seize Market Share When Competitors Retreat Expand globally when trends align and others hesitate.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
Romney's Cass took Obama to task for opposing development of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and for temporizing on the Keystone pipeline, while Obama's Aldy accused Romney of being insensitive to the environment and to the needs and desires of future generations.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2012
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share