abstaining

verb

present participle of abstain
as in refusing

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstaining
  1. refusing
  2. rejecting
  3. turning down
  4. hesitating
  5. delaying
  6. declining
Verb
  • Colombia has begun receiving international aid and rescuers after initially refusing some offers in the crucial hours following Monday’s devastating earthquake.
    — Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • They have been used to subdue violent suspects who are refusing to get into squad cars and inmates who are harming themselves and threatening officers, according to Compliant Technologies.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of refusing
Verb
  • Following fan outcry, Warners then decided to explore offers to sell it, only to — after rejecting various bids — seemingly take it off the market.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Thurmond offered only a brief explanation for rejecting the appeal, leaving the decision somewhat at odds with the state’s separate finding that the teachers agreement would have improved the district’s financial position.
    — Chaewon Chung August 11, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejecting
Verb
  • For McConaughey, turning down The Last of Us was less about the material and more about his own life’s circumstances.
    — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Here are six signs that turning down a job offer deserves serious consideration.
    — Kathy Caprino, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of turning down
Verb
  • Cueto was known for hesitating while in his pitching motion, or wiggling on the mound.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
  • So electric power companies and regulators are cautious, hesitating to construct plants unless future demand is guaranteed.
    — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of hesitating
Verb
  • In that unlikely scenario, the project with LINXS could be terminated and Los Angeles World Airports, which manages LAX, would have to find a new contractor, further delaying the train’s future.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Tampa politicians will likely celebrate by delaying a vote on the Rays’ proposed new stadium by another few months.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of delaying
Verb
  • Farage did not give a victory speech after declining to attend the declaration, claiming police had warned of a campaign to disrupt it.
    — Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Is the town’s population growing or declining, and by how much?
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of declining
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.

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abstain (from)
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Cite this Entry

“Abstaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstaining. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on abstaining

Nglish: Translation of abstaining for Spanish Speakers

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