Synonyms 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.

   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

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

   Preposition:
   Cease from anger.

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

1. abstain

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

   Antonyms:
   indulge, exceed, reveal, wanton

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. abstainverb

   refrain from voting

   Synonyms:
   desist, refrain

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

2. abstain, refrain, desistverb

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, refrain

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

Matched Categories

1. • Refrain

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. abstainverb

   Synonyms:
   refrain, forbear, desist, deny one's self, hold or keep one's self back, stay one's hand, keep one's self from indulgence

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

1. abstainverb

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

   Antonyms:
   indulge

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "abstain":

   refrain, abstention, abstaining, desist, forbear, abstentions

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How to use abstain in a sentence?

1. 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.

2. Zachary Taylor:

   As American freemen we can not but sympathize in all efforts to extend the blessings of civil and political liberty, but at the same time we are warned by the admonitions of history and the voice of our own beloved Washington to abstain from entangling alliances with foreign nations.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Augustine of Hippo:

   To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.