ABANDON Synonyms: 217 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

abandon 1 of 2

verb

ə-ˈban-dən

Definition of abandon

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to leave

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

as in to cancel

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

as in to discontinue

to stop doing (something) permanently marriage customs that were abandoned decades ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

abandon

2 of 2

noun

as in abandonment

carefree freedom from constraint added spices to the stew with complete abandon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

There’s a lot of heat from Ketchup Entertainment’s takeover of Warner Bros’ abandoned Coyote Vs. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the best example of the benefit of looking further afield than your own doorstep was Spurs’ decision to abandon their pursuit of West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino in favour of signing Son Heung-min from Bayer Leverkusen in summer 2015. — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Noun

But rather than getting back to basics to ensure that second at-bat would actually happen, the production that followed saw Bakshi changing techniques with such abandon that the finished film sometimes resembles a reel mutating in front of you. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 Ravers can dance with abandon while surrounded by historic aircraft that are set against the San Jacinto Mountains and desert sky. — Lisa Kocay, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abandon

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abandon

Verb

Remmick, Jimmy Crystal and Larry Lamb share an unrelenting desire to entertain, whether performing music outside a juke joint, indulging amusement with graphic violence or delighting the British reading public with scandal and drama.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Setting a specific treat budget or deciding in advance how often to indulge can help keep the habit intentional.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of indulge

Verb

If the league and union can’t agree on a new contract by some time in March, some regular-season games likely would be canceled.

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Another, who said a relative's upcoming interview had been canceled, described feeling confused and upset by what appeared to be an embassy-wide hold.

— María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of cancel

Verb

That's possibly because Starlink briefly discontinued the perk, but not before the customer had already subscribed to the Max plan, a nuance the AI may have failed to understand.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2026
The impact of Falcon 9's absence from the launch market can't yet be known, but industry reports suggest that SpaceX may discontinue all but a few Falcon 9 missions beginning in 2028.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of discontinue

Noun

The note appears twice in handwriting and is typed again on the final report of well abandonment.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
For Smotkin, the water crisis reflects the island’s history of structural neglect and systemic abandonment by both local and federal authorities.

— Isabel Rosales, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of abandonment

Verb

There were surrendered leads against Chelsea in the 2008-09 FA Cup final and, perhaps more galling, against a weaker-than-usual Liverpool side in a 2011-12 FA Cup semi-final.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Goss voluntarily relinquished his Missouri law license and surrendered his right to practice law in Kansas.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of surrender

Verb

Thoroughly unimpressed by her suburban idyll, and evidently unmoved by her responsibilities as wife and mother, Denise labors in her basement on a novel whose protagonist wishes to forsake her family for a life in New York.

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Alicent’s forsaken him, and his betrothed has turned out to be a damned and ancient witch.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of forsake

Verb

Three Saudi companies have scrapped plans for initial public offerings that were scheduled over the next month because of expectations of weak investor demand as the Iran war weighs on sentiment, according to people familiar with the matter.

— Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The Venice Film Festival is weighing scrapping its traditional opening jury press conference on the Lido.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of scrap

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abaft

abandon

abandoned

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“Abandon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abandon. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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