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abstained

verb

past tense of abstain
as in refused

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstained
  1. refused
  2. rejected
  3. turned down
  4. hesitated
  5. temporized
Verb
  • But while making an unsuccessful 2024 Senate bid, in an interview with the Detroit Free Press editorial board, Rogers refused to answer who won the presidential contest in 2020.
    — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
  • After Liviniti, the pharmacy benefit manager, refused coverage for Henderson, his family turned to Jefferson County.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of refused
Verb
  • Beijing has rejected such accusations as groundless and vowed to retaliate if Washington moves to target Chinese AI companies.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Kenda Tomes McClain, a candidate for mayor, asked the committee to allow the public to vote on the Royals stadium project, noting that Jackson County voters rejected a county plan for a Royals stadium in 2024.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • Sand, ever intentional, turned down Harvard Law School in favor of the University of Iowa and spent seven years as a state prosecutor.
    — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • AstraZeneca had also turned down the family's request for a donation of the drug.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of turned down
Verb
  • Many people would have hesitated before taking them on as tenants, housemates, or clients.
    — Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Watching the spray of flames and the boiling smoke, the hack hesitated for a moment.
    — Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitated
Verb
  • Assad lied and temporized, the official said.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of temporized
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.

Browse Nearby Words

abstain
abstained
abstained (from)
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Cite this Entry

“Abstained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstained. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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