as in to refuse
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Recent Examples of abstain
The diet does suggest limiting sugar but does not require participants to abstain from sugar completely.
—
Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Although 11 countries abstained from voting, the U.S.'s omission due to its decision to withdraw from the WHO is notable.
—Simon Williams, Time, 21 May 2025
Young recused herself from the vote and Chan abstained.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
As usual, Supervisor Don Chaffee tried to have it both ways and abstained from the vote.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
Although 11 countries abstained from voting, the U.S.'s omission due to its decision to withdraw from the WHO is notable.
—Simon Williams, Time, 21 May 2025
Young recused herself from the vote and Chan abstained.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 15 May 2025
As usual, Supervisor Don Chaffee tried to have it both ways and abstained from the vote.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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Paul was severely ill, so he was excused from appearing, but Vladimir was taken away by the Bolsheviks after refusing to renounce his father.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 June 2025
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The Mullahs in Tehran refused to dismantle their nuclear program.—
Anna Commander
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Verb
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But judges reviewing other eligibility cases have rejected this interpretation as construing Alston beyond its actual words.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2025
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The Dolphins have maintained contact with veteran free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas, who rejected a Miami offer earlier this month.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Arriving at Augusta at the start of Masters week, that first turn down the picturesque Magnolia Lane brought up a host of evocative childhood memories for the 21-year-old.—
Rory Fleming,
CNN Money,
12 June 2025
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The series transitioned to television in 1955 as a half-hour show with Arness taking over as Dillon at the urging of his pal John Wayne, who turned down the role.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Verb
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) hesitated to affirm his support for Schumer’s continued leadership.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2025
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As good as the night was against an A’s team that has now lost 22 of 26 games, Soriano hesitated to call it his best.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
11 June 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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