as in to refuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of abstain
In January, Dumas abstained from a vote to appoint Reece as president of the all-Democratic board and questioned Reece's leadership.
—
Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 1 Nov. 2024
The other four permanent members voted for it – including the UK, which has previously abstained from three other ceasefire resolutions shot down by the US.
—Richard Roth, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
The exhibition abstains from making a spectacle of its plenitude, inviting viewers to observe stylistic and technological developments unfolding freely and associatively.
—Jenny Wu, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2024
The Duggars are known to abstain from alcohol, so seeing the 33-year-old TLC star with a boozy beverage caused a stir online.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abstain 
Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 1 Nov. 2024
The other four permanent members voted for it – including the UK, which has previously abstained from three other ceasefire resolutions shot down by the US.
—Richard Roth, CNN, 20 Nov. 2024
The exhibition abstains from making a spectacle of its plenitude, inviting viewers to observe stylistic and technological developments unfolding freely and associatively.
—Jenny Wu, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2024
The Duggars are known to abstain from alcohol, so seeing the 33-year-old TLC star with a boozy beverage caused a stir online.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
-
China has labeled Lai a separatist and refuses to engage in dialogue with him, further increasing hostilities.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
-
The most memorable productions may have involved classics of one kind or another, but these works were reborn in stagings that refused to play it safe.Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder, or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment.HALELUYA HADERO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Syria's government has rejected reports that President Bashar al-Assad has fled Damascus as insurgents opposing his regime continue their lightning offensive.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The district then requested state partnership money to build a new school, but the Arkansas Department of Education facilities division turned down the request.Lynn Kutter, arkansasonline.com, 10 Dec. 2024
-
That same month, a long-shot bid from Missouri's attorney general to have the order removed was also turned down by the Supreme Court.Katherine Fung, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Without hesitating, Weil jumped into the water to save his dogs, the video shows.Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
-
And, in many cases, your competitors may be the ones hesitating, creating significant opportunities for you.Ken Pomella, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Romney's Cass took Obama to task for opposing development of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and for temporizing on the Keystone pipeline, while Obama's Aldy accused Romney of being insensitive to the environment and to the needs and desires of future generations.IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2012
-
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
Thesaurus Entries Near abstain
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share