as in to refuse
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abstain
His father struggled with alcoholism, which Punk directly cites as his reason for abstaining from the substance.
—
Erica Marrison, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Though most people choose to completely abstain from alcohol for the month, this might not be the best choice for everyone.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Jan. 2025
Leitz says many people who struggle with alcohol find abstaining is most effective.
—Allison Aubrey, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, people who abstained from alcohol consumed three times more chocolate than those who didn’t.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for abstain 
Erica Marrison, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Though most people choose to completely abstain from alcohol for the month, this might not be the best choice for everyone.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Jan. 2025
Leitz says many people who struggle with alcohol find abstaining is most effective.
—Allison Aubrey, NPR, 13 Jan. 2025
In fact, people who abstained from alcohol consumed three times more chocolate than those who didn’t.
—Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for abstain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstain
Verb
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Trump administration in talks to send Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador prisons Mexico has also so far refused requests from the U.S. to allow military flights carrying deportees to land in the country, according to officials from both countries.—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
1 Feb. 2025
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Trump has prioritized his campaign promise of mass deportations but Maduro has refused to take Venezuelan nationals back – and the US has generally been unable to send Venezuelans back because of frosty relations.—
Alejandra Jaramillo and Chris Lau,
CNN,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The passage of the bill signals a GOP civil war brewing between DeSantis and Perez and Albritton, who rejected the governor's immigration proposal in favor of their own plan.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
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But in September 2022 the new constitution was voted down, rejected in all 16 regions in Chile.—
Sammy Feldblum,
The Dial,
30 Jan. 2025
Verb
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So Pastrnak briefly thought about turning down the shot and looking to get closer.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
The Athletic,
2 Feb. 2025
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Vance told Bartiromo that the diversity mandate was leading the FAA to turn down qualified candidates and thus putting airline passengers‘ safety at risk.—
Elaine Mallon,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In her diary, Dana expressed a part of her experience that caregivers often hesitate to say out loud, as read by her son, Will, in the documentary.—
Elissa Strauss,
CNN,
2 Feb. 2025
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Bottom line: Do not hesitate to find out if your financial adviser is satisfying the needs of his custodian rather than you.—
Elliot Raphaelson,
Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near abstain
Cite this Entry
“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstain. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
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