1
as in indulges
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaves
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
3
as in cancels
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
the bad weather forced NASA to abandon the launch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in discontinues
to stop doing (something) permanently
marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 abandons
O’Hara found her highest-profile role in Home Alone (1990), as a harried suburban mom who accidentally abandons her 8-year-old son.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
The second abandons the intellectual framework that apparently motivated Warsh’s interest in the position.
—Daniel J. Arbess, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
The Hoenikker character, who abandons his car in a traffic jam one day and walks the rest of the way to work, and well, here's a snippet from the audio version of Cat's Cradle, told from the point of view of one of Hoenikker’s/Langmuir’s children.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Here, Segall abandons all instruments to concentrate on vocals, leaving his session players to gel into a real band.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
What else is going on A Maserati driver kills a man and a dog crossing a Sherman Oaks street, flees the scene and then abandons the car.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
After inadvertently destroying his best friend’s life, Narutaki Ryu abandons everything and leaves Japan, where he’s saved by Korean boxer Johan Hwang.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Though Miguel is shot in the leg during the surprise attack, Tommy and his men come out on top, and Jenard's team abandons him to work for Chicago's new kingpin.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
For those who prefer to keep things out of sight (and out of mind), choose a china cabinet that abandons glass doors in favor of wood.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
The second abandons the intellectual framework that apparently motivated Warsh’s interest in the position.
—Daniel J. Arbess, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
The Hoenikker character, who abandons his car in a traffic jam one day and walks the rest of the way to work, and well, here's a snippet from the audio version of Cat's Cradle, told from the point of view of one of Hoenikker’s/Langmuir’s children.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2026
Here, Segall abandons all instruments to concentrate on vocals, leaving his session players to gel into a real band.
—Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 30 Jan. 2026
What else is going on A Maserati driver kills a man and a dog crossing a Sherman Oaks street, flees the scene and then abandons the car.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
After inadvertently destroying his best friend’s life, Narutaki Ryu abandons everything and leaves Japan, where he’s saved by Korean boxer Johan Hwang.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Though Miguel is shot in the leg during the surprise attack, Tommy and his men come out on top, and Jenard's team abandons him to work for Chicago's new kingpin.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
For those who prefer to keep things out of sight (and out of mind), choose a china cabinet that abandons glass doors in favor of wood.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandons
Verb
-
Raimi indulges Send Help’s gore and gross-out moments with the zest of someone returning to his cult-favorite roots.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Evolution occasionally indulges us with organisms that seem too cool or too scary to be true, like something out of a science fiction film.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the last few seconds, the black holes whirl around each other at near the speed of light, emitting ever more powerful gravitational waves until the two actually merge, combining in one gluttonous gulp that leaves behind a single, more massive black hole.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Modern systems, including those from ADT, offer smart features that detect when your mobile device leaves a preset boundary (geofence) around your home.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … PULLING THE PLUG – Amazon cancels 'Melania' movie screening at cinema after sign backfires.—
,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
But Fombonne argues this is legally incorrect because the bill cancels future appropriations and future grants, but does not cancel grants that have already been awarded.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The sessions will take place as the IDFA Forum discontinues the conventional post-pitch feedback format.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Nissan discontinues Ariya electric SUV after 3 years.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Peter then surrenders to Catherine, who demands his explanation for going AWOL.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby are the secret weapons, and Nora Ephron's script never surrenders to sentimentality.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
USA Today,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The difference is the wisdom to recognize that giving away public-trust land and diminishing our quality of life forsakes the permanent greater good for the temporary benefit of a few developers and residents.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Among other things, the legislation adds work requirements for able-bodied adults starting in January 2027, revokes Medicaid access to some immigrants, including refugees and people seeking asylum, and checks whether someone is eligible for the program every six months instead of every year.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Trump revokes Canada’s spot on ‘Board of Peace’ 2.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The singer refused to flat-out say the Eagles are calling it quits.—
Thor Christensen,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But the daughter of late feminist and civil rights activist Roxcy Bolton isn’t ready to call it quits just yet.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abandons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandons. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
