1. purloin The central idea of withdrawing makes abstract in common speech a euphemism for appropriate (unlawfully), purloin, steal. In mental processes we discriminate between objects by distingui Synonyms: abstract, appropriate, distract, purloin, steal, detach, divert, remove, take away, discriminate, eliminate, separate, withdraw, distinguish Antonyms: add, complete, fill up, restore, unite, combine, conjoin, increase, strengthen