1
as in abandoning
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaving
to cause to remain behind
deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deserting
But Putin was not going to launch a new war against Turkey’s rebel allies just to save a petty dictator whose own soldiers were deserting.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deserting
Verb
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King has some sympathy for institutions that are genuinely in jeopardy, and not just abandoning their principles out of fear—like colleges and universities.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
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But the biological concerns didn’t seem to have been the primary driver behind abandoning a primo spot on Tuesday night.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Soon after leaving school, the organization Fighting Words changed that for me.—
Via Riverhead,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Body oils, dead skin, dirt, soap scum, mineral deposits, hard water stains, and mold can stick to the walls, door, grout, and floor, leaving a grimy film.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Deserting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deserting. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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