abandonment
noun
aban·don·ment
ə-ˈban-dən-mənt 
1
: the act of abandoning something or someone
the abandonment of a child/home
2
: the state of being abandoned
fear of abandonment
The opulence of her life as an expat wife failed to soothe her feelings of abandonment, boredom and oppression.—
Bob Shacochis
—sometimes used before another nounBob Shacochisabandonment issues
Examples of abandonment in a Sentence
sang at the top of her lungs with complete abandonment in the shower
the law says abandonment by the owner of any building for more than a year entitles the city to sell it
the park commissioner cited cost considerations as the main reason for the project's abandonment
Recent Examples on the Web
The approaching Easter holiday often means an increase in the purchase and gifting of live rabbits, and a resulting spike in abandonments.
—Sharon Chin, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In spite of a seismic crossing of the technological Rubicon, an abandonment of the centuries-old deference to the naked eye, a codifying and calcifying of the most atomic-level building block of the sport, baseball mostly just looked like baseball.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Buying or adopting animals on a whim often leads to abandonment when the novelty wears off and families realize they’re not equipped to properly care for the pets.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Dogs with a history of abandonment can be especially sensitive to even brief separation.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abandonment
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Sharon Chin, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In spite of a seismic crossing of the technological Rubicon, an abandonment of the centuries-old deference to the naked eye, a codifying and calcifying of the most atomic-level building block of the sport, baseball mostly just looked like baseball.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Buying or adopting animals on a whim often leads to abandonment when the novelty wears off and families realize they’re not equipped to properly care for the pets.
—City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Dogs with a history of abandonment can be especially sensitive to even brief separation.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abandonment
Cite this Entry
“Abandonment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abandonment. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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