abstain

Definition for abstain

verb as in hold back from doing

Strongest matches

cease, forgo, pass up, quit, refrain, renounce, shun, withhold

Strong matches

abjure, abnegate, avoid, constrain, curb, decline, eschew, evade, fast, forbear, pass, refuse, spurn, starve, stop

Weak matches

deny oneself, do without, fence-sit, give the go by, give up, go on the wagon, keep from, sit on one's hands, sit on the fence, sit out, take the cure, take the pledge

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He had some contact with mental health services that year and was warned to abstain from cannabis, which he had smoked since 2014.

From BBC

The net outcome of the past week’s diplomatic huddles will be Putin buying time for his aggression as Washington abstains from sanctions hoping for peace.

From Los Angeles Times

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who abstained from the vote, questioned the point of a motion that would almost certainly land them in front of a judge.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, only 175 voted in favour; 360 voted against and 18 abstained.

From BBC

Maybe abstaining while calling on white people to get involved can work, he added.

From Salon

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abstain

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