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

Colombia has begun receiving international aid and rescuers after initially refusing some offers in the crucial hours following Monday’s devastating earthquake.

— Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
They have been used to subdue violent suspects who are refusing to get into squad cars and inmates who are harming themselves and threatening officers, according to Compliant Technologies.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of refusing

Verb

Many residents are balking at that timing and at Ryan’s lawsuit against Killingly’s wetlands board for rejecting the first version of the plan on July 6.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026
Roster movement in both directions has been constant this year, from The New Day's exit to a former champion reportedly leaving after rejecting a new deal to the April release of 11 former champions.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of rejecting

Verb

Sacramento Regional Transit will adjust six bus routes beginning Sunday, including delaying departure times and eliminating one early-morning trip from Florin.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
The discovery prevented the plane from being moved on schedule, delaying a flight and forcing JetBlue to use a different aircraft instead, according to the affidavit, an interruption estimated to cost the airline over $2,400.

— Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of delaying

Verb

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has released reports on declining inventories based on budget documents and other public information.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Both have dealt with years of declining sales, but hemp beverages have opened a new market for a generation that isn’t drinking as much as its predecessors.

— Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of declining

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“Abstaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstaining. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of abstaining

verb

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