ABSTAINING Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

abstaining

verb

present participle of abstain

as in refusing

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstaining

Verb

But like in May, Ukraine’s European allies are refusing to heed the Kremlin’s call to abandon the city.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
April 20 – May 20 Your body may tell you what your schedule has been refusing to admit.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of refusing

Verb

Kim Yo Jong issued a statement Friday rejecting Seoul’s demand for an apology.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
David Peck, Pourharton’s attorney, told the Town Plan and Zoning Commission that his client’s business has created no reason for rejecting the request, noting that GG hasn’t been the scene of arrests or police activity.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejecting

Verb

The woman accused of keeping him captive, 58-year-old Kimberly Sullivan, is expected to head to trial after turning down two plea deals during a hearing in Waterbury Superior Court earlier this month.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
But for a sport the size of fencing, turning down attention is an unaffordable luxury.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of turning down

Verb

But experts have worried that doctors are hesitating to offer treatment without an ironclad diagnosis, which clinicians say can take time and increase risks to the mother.

— Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2026
Fertilizer is often bought months ahead of planting, so hesitating in the fall can mean less goes on the ground in the spring.

— Jayash Paudel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitating

Verb

As first revealed by Deadline, insiders expect Brittin to confirm TV and radio network closures after delaying plans to announce the changes this week.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
According to researchers, a combination of emissions from wildfires, long-term ozone effects and climate change impacts is likely delaying progress.

— Dan Peck, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

Local officials and school leaders have linked the shortage of family housing to declining enrollment in the Davis Joint Unified School District, which is weighing school closures.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
And the Civilian Oversight Commission filed suit against the department in June for declining to provide certain records related to three cases of use of force the commission issued subpoenas for in February 2025.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of declining

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“Abstaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstaining. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of abstaining

verb

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