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
  • Kansas City, Kansas, schools also refused to sign a resolution agreement.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Having refused to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in 2019, a group dominated by China, New Delhi has signed free trade agreements with New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of refused
Verb
  • The decision follows a separate antitrust ruling last year, when a judge rejected calls to force Google to divest Chrome.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Newcastle made an offer to Marseille for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in early August, though the 31-year-old rejected the move.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • The Archbishop O’Hara Hall of Famer sought other opportunities, but eventually turned down an offer to start Baker’s program a year later, after Gillette begrudgingly recommended her for the job.
    — PJ Green August 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Namely, the singer turned down the Presidential Medal of Freedom – widely considered the government's highest civilian honor – multiple times.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of turned down
Verb
  • Smith hesitated, Davis said, and Anderson grabbed the weapon and opened fire.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Some in Europe hesitated when the United States launched its war on Iran without consulting them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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