as in to refuse
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Recent Examples of abstain
Yup, that would be yet another catcher, Russ Nixon, who was able to abstain from base-stealing for all 906 games of his career back in the 1950s and ’60s.
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Jayson Stark, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
The procedure allows an absent lawmaker — in this case, a new mother — to coordinate with another member voting opposite their stance who is willing to abstain from the vote.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
While that allows Democrats, in theory, to overcome GOP opposition to legislation supported by every Senate Democrat, any Republican senator could abstain from voting, denying Gilchrist the opportunity to vote.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The number of people in their 20s who chose to abstain from alcohol more than doubled between 2001 and 2019, going from 9% to 22%, according to a 2019 National Drug Strategy Household survey.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Jayson Stark, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2025
The procedure allows an absent lawmaker — in this case, a new mother — to coordinate with another member voting opposite their stance who is willing to abstain from the vote.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
While that allows Democrats, in theory, to overcome GOP opposition to legislation supported by every Senate Democrat, any Republican senator could abstain from voting, denying Gilchrist the opportunity to vote.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
The number of people in their 20s who chose to abstain from alcohol more than doubled between 2001 and 2019, going from 9% to 22%, according to a 2019 National Drug Strategy Household survey.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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The search giant has refused to license content from news organizations and publishers, while other AI labs have done licensing deals.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
11 Sep. 2025
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For Jordan, that battle has meant staying grounded in his faith and refusing to let the disease isolate him.—
Essence,
Essence,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Democrats have long conceded that the party needs a new vision after voters soundly rejected their presidential ticket last fall, and internal squabbles about the party’s future have spilled out into the public.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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China has rejected the accusation and accused the Philippines of damaging the coral reef ecosystem in the waterway instead.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some college chapters of the Democratic and Republican parties are trying to turn down the temperature on discourse surrounding Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk's assassination, as several groups across the country issued joint statements condemning the attack and calling for non-violence.—
Grace Sandman,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
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There’s a reason Jones signed this offseason with San Francisco on a two-year deal, even after turning down bigger offers elsewhere.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Surgery under fire When news of the donor heart came, Todurov did not hesitate.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
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Tran said some Republican clubs have even hesitated to ask their universities for support or security for their events.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Accompanying these principles must be a rejection of the impulse to temporize about the dangers that confront us and a rejection of the bizarre deprecation of our nation and civilization.—
Peter J. Travers,
National Review,
29 Mar. 2022
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Even groups long noted for opposing nuclear power, such as the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Sierra Club, seem quietly ready to temporize on practical matters, such as allowing existing plants to continue as transitional energy sources.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harper’s Magazine ,
4 Jan. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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