abandon 1 of 2

1
as in to indulge
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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abandon

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abandon different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of abandon are relinquish, resign, surrender, waive, and yield. While all these words mean "to give up completely," abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

When might relinquish be a better fit than abandon?

While in some cases nearly identical to abandon, relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

When can resign be used instead of abandon?

The words resign and abandon can be used in similar contexts, but resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

When is it sensible to use surrender instead of abandon?

The words surrender and abandon are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

Where would waive be a reasonable alternative to abandon?

The meanings of waive and abandon largely overlap; however, waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

In what contexts can yield take the place of abandon?

In some situations, the words yield and abandon are roughly equivalent. However, yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

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 abandon
Verb
The governor criticized Republicans in Washington and urged his supporters not to abandon the fight. Jim Talamonti, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2025 Spanning his career from 1983 through 2018, the massive box set compiles a mix of eclectic material the Boss wrote and recorded but then abandoned. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 June 2025
Noun
So Jan duly uses it, replicating himself with carefree abandon. Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 23 May 2025 On the surface, the artist’s swirls, curls and modular shapes hit the eye with playful abandon. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for abandon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandon
Verb
  • Some adults want their children to develop AI literacy; others see chatbots as a way to indulge young kids’ endless curiosities or engage their creativity.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 14 July 2025
  • Trump previously appeared to indulge an antisemitic trope of Jewish people controlling things behind the scenes.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Only three of the top seven players in the world are left in the draw.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 5 July 2025
  • Capital Gains: Stability Reigns Surprisingly, the legislation leaves capital gains rates untouched.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Twenty-four flights have been canceled at DIA as of 4:30 p.m. A ground delay has been issued at DIA from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 8 July 2025
  • Here’s what should happen: If an accommodation provider cancels your reservation, which is what appeared to have happen, then Booking.com should have notified you as soon as possible — not three days before your trip.
    Christopher Elliott The Travel Troubleshooter, Sun Sentinel, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Buyers are urged to discontinue use immediately and contact the importer for a full refund.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • McDonald’s had discontinued the wrap – crispy or grilled white meat chicken breast, lettuce, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and a choice of sauce, wrapped in a soft flour tortilla – in 2016.
    Cheryl V. Jackson, The Courier-Journal, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • But that still didn’t make up for the abandonment felt by a town whose rhythms for generations revolved around regular papal visits.
    Dario Artale, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025
  • Volunteers advocate for children who have been removed from their home from either abuse, abandonment or neglect.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • Octavia Graham, 52, surrendered herself to authorities June 30 following a warrant for her arrest.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2025
  • But during a nearly two-hour standoff, Rendon kept leaving and re-entering the house and ignored deputies’ demands to surrender, according to the district attorney.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • In one of the picture’s most moving scenes, this Superman uses his X-ray vision to gaze through the walls of the house Kate Bosworth’s Lois Lane, having forsaken him, now shares with her young son and her fiancé (James Marsden).
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 July 2025
  • Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty Images Investors and businesses' enthusiasm for Hong Kong's equity capital markets is roaring back, as Chinese companies flocked to the city for fundraising, sparking a frenzy in the market that had been forsaken in recent years.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • By April 8, plans for John Cale to produce had been scrapped.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025
  • And his beef with Trump—and those who empowered him to balloon the national debt while scrapping subsidies for Musk’s EV empire—is for now at least limitless.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abandon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandon. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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