deserting

VERB

abandon, defect

Synonyms

STRONGEST

betray bolt depart escape flee forsake give up quit vacate

STRONG

abscond apostatize beach chuck decamp duck fly go jilt leave light maroon relinquish renounce resign split strand tergiversate walk

WEAK

bail out check out cop out crawl out go AWOL go back on go over the hill go west leave high and dry leave in the lurch leave stranded opt out play truant pull out run out on sneak off take a hike take off throw over violate oath

Antonyms

STRONGEST

come continue remain stay wait

STRONG

care face hold keep maintain stop

WEAK

aid assist come back help support

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In recent years, the number of Kiwis deserting the nation has reached record levels, a large chunk of them moving "across the ditch" to Australia.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

But a major reason for voters deserting the party in past elections was inflation, an unwelcome phenomenon for households after several decades of stable or falling prices.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

But the Syrian army collapsed with surprising ease, with many troops deserting the battlefield, in the face of the HTS rebels’ onslaught.

From Slate • Dec. 5, 2024

But that’s the way it’s been as my third and final child draws ever nearer to deserting the nest, as the role of “mother” becomes less CEO and more consultant emeritus.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2024

“The rats are deserting the ship. We must be sinking!”

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck