as in to refuse
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Recent Examples of abstain
State ethics rules require that lawmakers abstain from voting only if the legislation would disproportionately affect their business, compared to others in the industry.
—
Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
On the flip side, abstaining from alcohol — even for just two weeks — can improve sleep quality, reduce nighttime awakenings and enhance next-day energy.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Some may choose to copy the United Airlines idea of giving two different forecasts for 2025, while others may abstain from making public projections altogether.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2025
Worshipers abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent to honor Jesus sacrificing his flesh on Good Friday, according to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
On the flip side, abstaining from alcohol — even for just two weeks — can improve sleep quality, reduce nighttime awakenings and enhance next-day energy.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Some may choose to copy the United Airlines idea of giving two different forecasts for 2025, while others may abstain from making public projections altogether.
—Jesse Pound, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2025
Worshipers abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent to honor Jesus sacrificing his flesh on Good Friday, according to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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Related Stories Sonja Morgan Banned from N.Y.C. Hotspot After Walking Out on $1,000 Bill Sonja Morgan Speaks Out After Leaving Restaurant in Ambulance On May 10, Morgan allegedly refused to pay her $1000 bill at Tucci, an upscale restaurant in the Noho neighborhood of Manhattan.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
20 May 2025
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For more than a decade, Cox has refused to carry SportsNet LA because of its high cost.—
Ryan Faughnder,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
Verb
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On May 16, Brown appeared in Manchester Magistrates’ Court, where Judge Joanne Hirst rejected his bail request.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
18 May 2025
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To compound the embarrassment, Arsenal fan group Ashburton Army had raised more than £12,000 to fund their own tifo, which the club rejected (fans who had donated were refunded their money).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
Verb
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The largest obstacles were Jo finding a way to turn down her future mother- in-law’s questionable makeup artist talent and veil offering and Link struggling with his vows.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
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President Donald Trump said that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has turned down his offer to deploy American troops into Mexico to fight against the country's drug cartels.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Ask Questions And Remain Curious For early-career entrants, the entire process is new, including securing an internship, so don't hesitate to ask questions.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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And Brinkley didn’t hesitate to share her diet regimen.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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