refrain from

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beware v.
cut out v.
discontinue v.
spare v.
waive v.

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.

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refrain from

Some, such as investor Bill Ackman, have continued to needle their alma maters and refrain from giving.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

I’d also refrain from comparing him with your other direct report; they are different people with different aptitudes, and one performance doesn’t need to anchor the other.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, is an annual holiday during which the usually bustling tourist island goes quiet, as people stay home and refrain from making loud noises.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Yasukuni this week also appealed to visitors to refrain from wearing military-style uniforms so that the "general public can worship in peace and quiet at our shrine".

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

I stopped, unwilling to make my first foray into filial disobedience w'ith one who faced her Maker—but could not refrain from saying, “I ask you not to tell me children’s tales of panthers pulling chariots.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

refrain from

Example Sentences

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Related Words