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abstain

See definition of abstain on Dictionary.com

synonyms for abstain

  • cease
  • forgo
  • pass up
  • quit
  • refrain
  • renounce
  • shun
  • withhold
  • abjure
  • abnegate
  • avoid
  • constrain
  • curb
  • decline
  • eschew
  • evade
  • fast
  • forbear
  • pass
  • refuse
  • spurn
  • starve
  • stop
  • deny oneself
  • do without
  • fence-sit
  • give the go by
  • give up
  • go on the wagon
  • keep from
  • sit on one's hands
  • sit on the fence
  • sit out
  • take the cure
  • take the pledge
See also synonyms for: abstaining

antonyms for abstain

MOST RELEVANT
  • continue
  • do
  • accept
  • allow
  • embrace
  • encourage
  • face
  • meet
  • use
  • want
  • indulge
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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How to use abstain in a sentence

As part of this practice, Muslims abstain from food, water, smoking, sex and all sensory pleasures from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
FASTING MAY HAVE BECOME A HEALTH FAD, BUT RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR MILLENNIALGBTQ-EDITORJULY 30, 2021NO STRAIGHT NEWS
Metro board member Michael Goldman, who represents Maryland, abstained from the vote, saying the transit agency should switch completely to electric-bus purchases starting next year.
METRO IS PHASING OUT DIESEL-POWERED BUSES, WITH PLANS TO TRANSFORM ITS FLEET TO ELECTRIC BY 2045JUSTIN GEORGEJUNE 24, 2021WASHINGTON POST
Soon-Shiong, who had told The Post as recently as midweek that he hadn’t yet decided how he was going to vote on the offer, ended up abstaining from voting.
TRIBUNE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE TO SELL LEGENDARY CHAIN OF NEWSPAPERS TO A HEDGE FUNDELAHE IZADI, SARAH ELLISONMAY 21, 2021WASHINGTON POST
He would drink and take drugs to “feel less of what I was feeling,” estimating that, even if he abstained during the week, he would drink a week’s worth in one day on a Friday or Saturday night.
PRINCE HARRY TO OPRAH: PRINCE CHARLES AND THE ROYAL FAMILY ‘BULLIED’ MEKEVIN FALLONMAY 21, 2021THE DAILY BEAST
Maybe they’re abstaining because they had severe alcohol-use disorders in the past, and this has led to health conditions.
LET’S BE BLUNT: MARIJUANA IS A BOON FOR OLDER WORKERS (EP. 459)STEPHEN J. DUBNERAPRIL 22, 2021FREAKONOMICS
Robert Patmon, one of the members who questioned the need for three positions, abstained.
EMAILS BACK UP MISSPENDING ALLEGATION AT LINCOLN HIGHWILL HUNTSBERRYMARCH 10, 2021VOICE OF SAN DIEGO
Some of us abstain from meat and fish on occasion, others altogether.
THE NEW WINE RULES: DRINK WHAT YOU LIKE WITH WHAT YOU WANT TO EATDAVE MCINTYREFEBRUARY 12, 2021WASHINGTON POST
The votes were unanimous in both chambers, aside from one delegate who abstained.
VIRGINIA’S GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEADS TO SPECIAL SESSION WITH BIPARTISAN MOMENTUM ON CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILLSGREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, LAURA VOZZELLAFEBRUARY 8, 2021WASHINGTON POST
Such requirements are “enough of a deterrent” to voting that the number of people who abstain have a significant effect on the result, says Grinspan.
THE 2020 ELECTION SET A RECORD FOR VOTER TURNOUT. BUT WHY IS IT NORMAL FOR SO MANY AMERICANS TO SIT OUT ELECTIONS?OLIVIA B. WAXMANNOVEMBER 5, 2020TIME
That is, unless Democrats are feeling charitable and agree to abstain from voting.
FROM WUHAN VIRUS TO WASHINGTON VIRUSDANIEL MALLOYOCTOBER 4, 2020OZY
SYNONYM OF THE DAY
OCTOBER 26, 1985
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WORDS RELATED TO ABSTAIN

  • abstain
  • decline
  • forbear
  • forgo
  • give up
  • refrain
  • reject
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.