Antonyms for abstain
æbˈsteɪnab·stain

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.7 / 9 votes

1. abstainverb

   Synonyms:
   refrain, deny, withhold, relinquish, forbear, give up, forgo

2. abstainverb

   Refrain from (something); hold one's self aloof; to forbear or keep from doing, especially an indulgence of the passions or appetites; -- with from.

   Synonyms:
   refrain, withhold, forgo, give up, deny, relinquish, forbear

3. abstainverb

   To shun voluntarily.

   Synonyms:
   deny, refrain, give up, forgo, withhold, relinquish, forbear

4. abstainverb

   Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.

   Synonyms:
   forgo, forbear, deny, give up, refrain, withhold, relinquish

5. abstainverb

   Hinder; withhold.

   Synonyms:
   forbear, withhold, refrain, forgo, relinquish, give up, deny

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. abstain

   Strains of music may gradually or suddenly cease. A man quits work on the instant; he may discontinue a practise gradually; he quits suddenly and completely; he stops short in what he may or may not resume; he pauses in what he will probably resume. What intermits or is intermitted returns again, as a fever that intermits. Compare ABANDON; DIE; END; REST.

   Antonyms:
   begin, commence, enter upon, inaugurate, initiate, institute, originate, set about, set going, set in operation, set on foot, start

   Synonyms:
   bring to an end, cease, come to an end, conclude, desist, discontinue, end, end, finish, give over, intermit, leave off, pause, quit, refrain, stop, terminate

   Preposition:
   Cease from anger.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 3 votes

1. abstain

   Antonyms:
   indulge, exceed, reveal, wanton

   Synonyms:
   refrain, forbear, refuse, demur, avoid, cease, stop, keep back, desist, discontinue, withhold, scruple

Matched Categories

1. • Refrain

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. abstainverb

   refrain from voting

   Antonyms:
   take in, consume, have, take, ingest

   Synonyms:
   desist, refrain

2. abstain, refrain, desistverb

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

   Antonyms:
   take in, have, ingest, take, consume

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, refrain

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. abstainverb

   Antonyms:
   indulge

   Synonyms:
   forbear, refrain, withhold, deny one's self

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. accept

   instead of leaving, you're taking it

   Submitted by anonymous on October 7, 2019  

2. nisus

   Submitted by anonymous on November 24, 2020  

3. recidivism

   to refrain from or have restraint against

   the rate of probationer abstinence over the last two years is 87%. (as opposed to stating the negative - the rate of re-offending is 13%)

   Submitted by rinat on June 15, 2017  

How to use abstain in a sentence?

1. Le Drian:

   I encouraged Iran to be constructive, i called on Iran to abstain from any further violation of its current commitments in the nuclear domain that could threaten the movement toward resumed discussions.

2. El Sahly:

   We do not expect that occasional or moderate amount of alcohol ingestion to affect the response to the vaccine, and we are not requesting from subjects or the general public to abstain from alcohol around vaccination time.

3. Eric Schultz:

   The US did not draft this resolution nor did the US introduce this resolution, the Egyptians, in partnership with the Palestinians, are the ones who began circulating an earlier draft of the resolution. The Egyptians are the ones who moved it forward on Friday. And we took the position that we did when it was put to a vote. The White House already has acknowledged Obama made the decision for U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power to abstain. Unclear was how involved the Obama administration was in crafting and pushing the resolution itself – which initially was put forward by Egypt, and then pursued as well by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela. Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday that while the U.S. and Israel for decades had disagreed on settlements, they had an understanding that such action before the U.N. Security Council would make peace negotiations harder.

4. Marie Antoinette:

   It would be doing me great injustice to think that I have any feeling of indifference to my country; I have more reason than anyone to feel, every day of my life, the value of the blood which flows in my veins, and it is only from prudence that at times I abstain from showing how proud I am of it.

5. Mr Seyit:

   I ’m a Sunni Muslim Mr Seyit but I understand Shi’a sensitivities and for them this is a very holy time, it’s a time when they are encouraged to reflect on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and abstain from all forms of celebrations.

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