abandonment
/əˈbændənmənt/
NOUN
1. The act of abandoning or deserting
The act of leaving someone or something behind, or the state of being left behind; complete desertion or relinquishment.
1.1. Leaving or deserting a person
Leaving someone to whom one has a personal or legal obligation, such as a spouse, child, or dependent.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- care
- support
- protection
- commitment
Examples
- The child struggled with feelings of insecurity due to parental abandonment.
- The law addresses the abandonment of dependents.
Related Words
1.2. Leaving a building or property unused
The condition or act of leaving a building, structure, or property deserted and no longer maintained or used.
Synonyms
- desertion
- disuse
- neglect
Antonyms
Examples
- The neglected building showed signs of years of abandonment and decay.
Related Words
- vacancy
- dereliction
- decay
- deterioration
NOUN
2. The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege
The act of voluntarily giving up a right, claim, privilege, or legal interest.
2.1. Giving up a legal right or claim
The formal relinquishment of a legal right, claim, privilege, or interest in property.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- retention
- reclamation
- repossession
Examples
- The agreement addressed the abandonment of the inventor's rights to secure a patent.
Related Words
- disclaimer
- forfeiture
- cession
- legal waiver
2.2. Giving up an insured property after a loss
The relinquishment of what remains of insured property to an insurer following covered loss or damage.
Synonyms
- relinquishment
- surrender
- waiver
Examples
- The policy addressed the abandonment of damaged property to the insurer after a covered loss.
Related Words
- insurance claim
- underwriter
- insured property
- total loss
2.3. Discontinuing a service or refusing damaged freight
In transportation contexts, the cessation of service on a route or the refusal to accept freight damaged in transit.
Synonyms
- discontinuation
- cessation
- withdrawal
- refusal
Antonyms
- continuation
- resumption
- acceptance
Examples
- The agency reviewed the proposed abandonment of service on the railway line.
Related Words
- carrier
- freight
- transportation
- service termination
NOUN
3. Unrestrained freedom or surrender to emotion
A state of acting freely and without restraint, or surrendering oneself completely to an outside influence or emotion.
3.1. Acting freely without restraint
A manner of behaving with spontaneity, enthusiasm, or freedom from ordinary inhibitions.
Synonyms
- uninhibitedness
- unrestraint
- spontaneity
- exuberance
- recklessness
Antonyms
- restraint
- inhibition
- discretion
- self-control
Examples
- The children played with complete abandonment.
- She danced with joyful abandonment.
Related Words
- carefreeness
- impulsiveness
- enthusiasm
- indulgence
3.2. Surrendering to an emotion or influence
The act of yielding oneself to feelings, desires, or an external influence without resistance.
Synonyms
- surrender
- yielding
- indulgence
- self-surrender
Antonyms
- resistance
- restraint
- self-control
Examples
- The passage describes a complete abandonment to emotion.
Related Words
- emotional surrender
- impulse
- passion
- submission