refrain from

VERB

beware

Synonyms

STRONGEST

heed take care

STRONG

attend avoid mind notice shun

WEAK

be cautious be wary guard against keep eyes open keep on one's toes keep one's distance look out mind p's and q's steer clear of take heed walk on eggs watch one's step watch out

Antonyms

STRONG

disregard face ignore meet neglect

WEAK

court invite risk take on

VERB

cut out

Synonyms

STRONGEST

carve delete eliminate extract pull out sever

WEAK

cease displace exclude exsect extirpate give up oust stop supersede supplant usurp

Antonyms

STRONGEST

add put in

WEAK

include

VERB

discontinue

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon break off cease give up halt interrupt quit suspend terminate

STRONG

close desist disconnect disjoin dissever disunite drop end finish interpose intervene kill part pause scrub separate stop

WEAK

bag it blow off call it quits give over knock off leave off put an end to surcease

Antonyms

STRONGEST

begin complete continue go initiate start

STRONG

bear commence connect create give birth join restart unite

WEAK

carry on retry

VERB

spare

Synonyms

STRONGEST

excuse exempt leave pardon

STRONG

absolve discharge dispense forbear pity release relent spring

WEAK

bail out be lenient be merciful get off the hook get out of hock give a break give quarter to go easy on let go let off privilege from pull out of the fire relieve from save bacon save from save neck

VERB

waive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon allow defer forgo grant hand over postpone put off reject relinquish remove renounce set aside shelve surrender suspend turn over

STRONG

cede delay disclaim disown leave neglect prorogue remit renege reserve resign stay table yield

WEAK

dispense with hold off hold up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve carry out continue deny do expedite forward hold keep refuse retain take

STRONG

accept acknowledge advance claim go guard

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency said that while it understood "the considerable public interest in this particular whale," it stressed that people should keep a safe distance and refrain from approaching the whale.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Amanda B. Elbogen asked that the judge order Wang to refrain from any communication with the Chinese government, including consular officials in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Know what your enemy wants you to do so you can refrain from doing it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

"We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations," he added.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

I couldn’t refrain from sounding Peter out on the subject, and he instantly replied that Dussel had been lying.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

refrain from

Example Sentences

Related Words