Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

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.

Wang must also refrain from any communication with the Chinese government, including consular officials in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

So-called hawks are more inclined to fight inflation with interest-rate hikes and to refrain from cutting rates.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 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

He added officials do have a delicate balancing act, to refrain from raising rates prematurely and further slow down a struggling economy, while avoiding waiting too long to act before higher inflation becomes entrenched.

From The Wall Street Journal • 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