ABORTIVE Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

abortive

adjective

ə-ˈbȯr-tiv

Definition of abortive

as in unsuccessful

producing no results an abortive attempt to recover the sunken pirate ship

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Recent Examples of abortive Six of the album’s tracks began in abortive sessions in the 2010s with Patti Smith Group bassist Tony Shanahan. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026 The social media profiles of some Moran personnel also show they were linked to Wagner, which was effectively liquidated after its then boss Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an abortive revolt in Russia in 2023. — Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 18 Dec. 2025 Even as Nintendo has endlessly mined its classic consoles for nostalgic re-releases in recent decades, the company has seemed to completely ignore the existence of the Virtual Boy—its abortive 1990s dip into the world of early virtual reality. — ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025 Garbowit recalls that there were only around sixteen members of Congress lined up behind Thanedor’s abortive resolution—so the fact that Green’s follow-up motion garnered seventy-nine supporters in the caucus is a sign of progress. — Chris Lehmann, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abortive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abortive

Adjective

That ability to learn may ultimately separate successful defenders from unsuccessful ones.

— Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
The five unsuccessful trials shared a condition of the test rig rather than indicating a failure of the recovery logic.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsuccessful

Adjective

In sick bay, M’Benga tries to remove the table and end his life so Chapel can give up on him, an effort that proves futile.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Its storyline spins the futile, determined chase of Wile to one day capture Roadrunner as something admirable, and applies that underdog mentality to the average person trying to navigate a late capitalist landscape that values profits over people.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of futile

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abortive

abortiveness

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“Abortive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abortive. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of abortive

adjective

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