as in abnegation
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Recent Examples of abstention
The recommendations were approved by 47 votes in favor, with two opposing votes and one abstention, Haberturk broadcaster reported.
—
Suzan Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The employees, who had been observing an eight-hour partial strike for three days since Saturday, enforced a 24-hour work abstention starting Tuesday morning.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Thompson-Hernández’s discreet abstention from stereotypical depictions of poverty and gang life would be notable on its own, but that he de facto replaces them with visions of urban stableman who view horses like healers is a powerful substitution.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Violet’s parents had graciously chosen not to read it, which had spared us all a few embarrassing conversations, but their abstention had also deprived me of a cathartic victory over them for not believing in me.
—Andrew Martin, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstention
Suzan Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The employees, who had been observing an eight-hour partial strike for three days since Saturday, enforced a 24-hour work abstention starting Tuesday morning.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Feb. 2026
Thompson-Hernández’s discreet abstention from stereotypical depictions of poverty and gang life would be notable on its own, but that he de facto replaces them with visions of urban stableman who view horses like healers is a powerful substitution.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026
Violet’s parents had graciously chosen not to read it, which had spared us all a few embarrassing conversations, but their abstention had also deprived me of a cathartic victory over them for not believing in me.
—Andrew Martin, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstention
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstention
Noun
-
Not one for false abnegation of words distorted by smears, Rushdie doubles down on his right to freedom of expression, defending his dissent from religious orthodoxy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Jan. 2026
-
That, for me, feels like an abnegation of our responsibility in theater.—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Venus in your 12th House can pull you toward rest or avoidance instead of action.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Some of the security measures around Putin detailed have been reported previously, or were widely presumed to be the case, including the intensive body searches, the Kremlin’s avoidance of smartphones and restriction of the president’s movements.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
What started as typical teen mortification led to a mother-daughter partnership when Ramineni realized her daughter could be her biggest asset to content creation.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
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Monica’s mortification that summer of ’98 forms the backbone of Julia Langbein’s latest novel Dear Monica Lewinsky, out this month from Doubleday.—
Lilyanna D'Amato,
ARTnews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Beyond their asceticism, the six members of the group - Daniela Avanzini, Lara Raj, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeung - hail from different countries, including the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Frayne writes that some second- and third-century sects, such as the Encratites, Priscilliantists, and Manicheans, advocated against meat eating, typically as part of a broader asceticism that might also include celibacy.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reached a $120 million settlement with Navient in 2024, after accusing the lender of steering student loan borrowers away from affordable repayment plans and into expensive forbearances.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
Most periods of deferment and forbearance, during which no payments are due, don’t count.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the beginning of her relationship with John, Carolyn’s central problem was that being part of the Kennedy family demanded some level of self-denial.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church for a service that emphasizes the start of a season of reflection, self-denial and repentance from sin.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On a call with reporters Monday, Wu defended the frugality of her FY27 spending plan amid calls for an audit of city and BPS spending by two city councilors.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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Are Flaubert and Beckett writers who felt terror about having children, and then sublimated this frugality into the discipline of their literary work?—
Aaron Matz,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The United States is now witnessing the unraveling of nearly a century of organizing, civil disobedience and personal sacrifice by ordinary people who helped build Black political power to heights unseen since Reconstruction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
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Twelve Marylanders were honored Friday for giving the ultimate sacrifice to protect our communities in their time of need.—
Ashley Paul,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abstention.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstention. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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