Synonyms of deserting

deserting

verb

present participle of desert

1

as in abandoning

to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another

the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandoning
• rejecting
• leaving
• withdrawing
• forsaking
• defecting (from)
• renouncing
• running out on
• going back on
• ratting (on)
• spurning
• repudiating
• jumping ship
• disowning
• abdicating
• quitting
• walking out on
• abjuring
• departing
• cutting off
• reneging
• going
• apostatizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clinging (to)
• adhering (to)
• sticking (to or with)
• fostering
• cultivating
• cherishing

2

as in leaving

to cause to remain behind

deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leaving
• abandoning
• forsaking
• stranding
• dumping
• quitting
• marooning
• ditching
• discarding
• walking away from
• flinging
• shedding
• escaping
• relinquishing
• walking out on
• renouncing
• scrapping
• vacating
• ignoring
• jettisoning
• sacrificing
• rejecting
• forgetting
• surrendering
• throwing away
• withdrawing (from)
• separating (from)
• retreating (from)
• repudiating
• junking
• neglecting
• taking off (from)
• throwing out
• yielding
• giving up
• delivering
• distancing
• cutting off
• disowning
• disregarding
• shucking (off)
• handing over
• abjuring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• having
• keeping
• owning
• retaining
• holding
• possessing
• reclaiming
• withholding
• reserving
• saving
• harboring
• rescuing
• redeeming

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of deserting

Over the next two decades, records are few, most of them noting criminal convictions for fighting in bars, stealing a watch, deserting a whaling ship, and beating his wife. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

But Putin was not going to launch a new war against Turkey’s rebel allies just to save a petty dictator whose own soldiers were deserting. — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026