abstaining

Definition of abstainingnext
present participle of abstain
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstaining
Verb
  • Moreover, lawmakers are engaged in budget negotiations, where the House is refusing to fund several of DeSantis’ priorities.
    Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
  • Former Representative Elizabeth Holtzman, one of the co-authors, has portrayed the act as a corrective to the moral failure of refusing entry to many Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.
    Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • But the system kept rejecting it, saying my Colorado driver license wasn’t from the United States.
    Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
  • When Nita rebuffs the advances of the lightweight cad Christophe (who’s Pierre’s brother), that’s the one focused emotion in the movie — a woman rejecting workplace harassment.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • In hindsight, Julius Randle turning down a potential drive to the rim and instead lobbing a grenade to Rudy Gobert near the end of the shot clock was a harbinger of the rest of his night.
    Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 9 May 2026
  • Stanley Tucci is opening up about turning down opportunities to take part in food competition shows.
    Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Right now, Taylor said, both sides are hesitating.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • Walgreens isn’t hesitating to close stores in parts of Chicago where theft is frequent and there are legitimate concerns about the safety of employees and customers.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Electric propulsion also enables Blitz to have a low acoustic as well as infra-red signature, delaying detection.
    Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
  • Temporarily delaying action on a state law that would open the door for a lot of homes to be built across the city.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Black Bear officials cited the program's declining participation rates and finances as the reason.
    Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 14 May 2026
  • Sadly, bat populations are declining rapidly in North America.
    The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Abstaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstaining. Accessed 22 May. 2026.

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