ABANDON Synonyms: 217 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'abandon' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of abandon are relinquish , resign , surrender , waive , and yield . While all these words mean "to give up completely," abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up. // abandoned all hope

Q: When might 'relinquish' be a better fit than 'abandon'?

While in some cases nearly identical to abandon , relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness. // relinquished her crown

Q: When can 'resign' be used instead of 'abandon'?

The words resign and abandon can be used in similar contexts, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle. // resigned her position

Q: When is it sensible to use 'surrender' instead of 'abandon'?

The words surrender and abandon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist. // surrendered their claims

Q: Where would 'waive' be a reasonable alternative to 'abandon'?

The meanings of waive and abandon largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion. // waived the right to a trial by jury

Q: In what contexts can 'yield' take the place of 'abandon'?

In some situations, the words yield and abandon are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force. // the troops yielded ground grudgingly

abandon 1 of 2

verb

ə-ˈban-dən

Definition of abandon

as in to indulge

to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly more than ready to abandon himself to a life of complete idleness for the duration of his vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to leave

to cause to remain behind abandoned the group that he had been hiking with and struck out on his own

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to cancel

to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the bad weather forced NASA to abandon the launch

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discontinue

to stop doing (something) permanently marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

abandon

2 of 2

noun

as in abandonment

carefree freedom from constraint added spices to the stew with complete abandon

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abandon different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of abandon are relinquish, resign, surrender, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When might relinquish be a better fit than abandon?

While in some cases nearly identical to abandon, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When can resign be used instead of abandon?

The words resign and abandon can be used in similar contexts, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When is it sensible to use surrender instead of abandon?

The words surrender and abandon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would waive be a reasonable alternative to abandon?

The meanings of waive and abandon largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

In what contexts can yield take the place of abandon?

In some situations, the words yield and abandon are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of abandon

Verb

Their disappearance was discovered only two hours later, when tourists stumbled upon two Antonello paintings, apparently abandoned by the assailants, leaning against the museum fence. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 18 Aug. 2026 This latest paper focused on a Theban tomb known as 209 in the western necropolis, dating back to the early 25th Dynasty (754–656 BCE) and ultimately abandoned in the Ptolemaic period (305–30 BCE). — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026

Noun

Her music accordingly pares down the signature elements of a genre in which reckless abandon and defiant self-expression have long been central. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026 Falling in love with him had been gradual, not a matter of abandon. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for abandon

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandon

Verb

Written to indulge superfans, the movie also makes sure to not lose the general audience.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Whether the race ever happens, the idea is pure Shaq, a celebrity who's renowned for indulging his passions, of which cars are near the top of the list.

— Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of indulge

Verb

Town leaders canceled their contract with Flock Safety, saying a legal review found the agreement violated state law.

— Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
The franchise was canceled after a 2006 Texas operation in which Rockwall County assistant district attorney Louis Conradt died by suicide as authorities and the show’s crew closed in on his home.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of cancel

Verb

The magazine claims that the company considered moving production of the four-door away from its primary factory in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as discontinuing it even sooner, before settling on gradually phasing out the model by 2030.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
On May 26, the nearby city of Fitchburg voted to discontinue its own Flock subscription.

— Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of discontinue

Verb

The Cowboys and Saints were fined $500,000 apiece for scrapping at their joint practice this week.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
The film initially touched on the 1993 allegations against the singer, but a binding legal clause in the $20 million settlement with one accuser forced producers to scrap the third act, rewrite the script, reshoot, and end the first film in 1987.

— Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrap

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abaft

abandon

abandoned

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“Abandon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandon. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abandon

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