Synonyms for

Abandonment

Verb / ʌˈbændʌnmʌnt / Another word for abandonment — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

The act of leaving or deserting someone or something.

Synonyms & similar words

desertion defection forsaking forsaking desertion neglect rejection betrayal discontinuation disengagement withdrawal defection departure absence leaving quitting vacation evacuation eviction emigration flight exodus retreat

Synonyms by register

Formal

desertion forsaking relinquishment

Informal

leaving scramming ditching

Literary

renunciation abdication

Antonyms

protection retention support care preservation maintenance possession

Common collocations

  • child abandonment
  • emotional abandonment
  • fear of abandonment
  • abandonment issues
  • abandonment of property
  • abandonment of a project
  • abandonment of rights

Word family

noun abandonment
verb abandon
adjective abandoned

Usage note

Often used in legal and psychological contexts. Can refer to the act of leaving something or someone, or the state of being left.

Example sentences

  1. The abandonment of the ship was necessary to save the crew.
  2. The child felt a sense of abandonment when her parents divorced.
  3. The company's abandonment of the project was disappointing.
  4. The cat's abandonment by her owner was cruel.
  5. The city's abandonment of the park led to it becoming overgrown and neglected.

Quotes

  • Abandonment doesn't mean the person is gone forever. It just means that they are not in your life right now.
  • The greatest cruelty is our casual blindness to the despair of others.
  • Abandonment doesn't hurt because the person left; it hurts because you were not enough for them to stay.

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