as in abandonment
the act of abandoning
the soldiers were imprisoned for desertion of their posts
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Recent Examples of desertion
During the Civil War, firing squads were common for executing soldiers for desertion; in some cases, they would be blindfolded and tied to stakes before being shot.
—
Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 2 Mar. 2025
The true reason of growing desertions lays in low morale and patriotism of recent conscripts who never wanted to defend their homeland and were caught and forced to do that.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
The arrests come amid growing public pressure for action against commanders seen as incompetent or careless as desertions rise in the Ukrainian Army.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Large-scale desertions among Russian conscripts might follow.
—Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for desertion
Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 2 Mar. 2025
The true reason of growing desertions lays in low morale and patriotism of recent conscripts who never wanted to defend their homeland and were caught and forced to do that.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
The arrests come amid growing public pressure for action against commanders seen as incompetent or careless as desertions rise in the Ukrainian Army.
—Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Large-scale desertions among Russian conscripts might follow.
—Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 22 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for desertion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desertion
abandonment
Noun
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The author means this in the larger sense of abandonment—of a parent, of a friend, or even of a boss.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
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Public shelters and private rescues across Southern California are seeing an increase in large dog abandonment and owner requests for assistance.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desertion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desertion. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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