Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstaining
Verb
-
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, told CNN that Italy is refusing to cooperate with Kyiv on the issue and is preventing Ukrainian authorities from checking on the children’s welfare.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026 -
And of course there will always be readers who balk at SF, refusing to countenance that our lived reality is saturated with it, and that the time for earnestly realistic state-of-the-nation novels may have passed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Both candidates emphasized local issues throughout their campaign, with a focus on rejecting corruption and bringing integrity and honesty to city hall.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Coalition members are also critical of the EU, rejecting policies particularly on environment and migration.—
Karel Janicek,
Fortune,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Wayans shared a similar sentiment about turning down the role of Reggie Warrington in The Nutty Professor.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
-
Recently, after years of turning down offers to expand the brand, Chiva-Som recently opened its first outpost, Zulal Wellness Retreat in Qatar, focussing on family health.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Walgreens isn’t hesitating to close stores in parts of Chicago where theft is frequent and there are legitimate concerns about the safety of employees and customers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
While many campuses were delaying scholarship decisions until the government resolved problems with a new financial aid form, Swarthmore used other data to figure out applicants’ financial need.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Moscow has repeatedly said that Zelensky was not the legitimate leader of Ukraine and as such could not negotiate any peace deal but this has been seen by critics as aimed at delaying an end to Putin’s aggression.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Underlying the debate is an intense competition for public school students, which has become an existential threat in an era of sharply declining enrollment, especially given the reality that school districts are funded based on enrollment.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The filings cite the president’s own words expressing continued support of the weaponization fund, while declining to answer whether the effort has been halted.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Abstaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstaining. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
