Abstain from and Avoid

Abstain from

Abstain from verb - To resist the temptation of.
Usage example: had to abstain from solid food before her surgery

Avoid is a synonym for abstain from in refrain from topic. In some cases you can use "Avoid" instead a verb "Abstain from", when it comes to topics like eschew.

Avoid

Avoid verb - To get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery.

Abstain from is a synonym for avoid in refrain from topic. You can use "Abstain from" instead a verb "Avoid", if it concerns topics such as eschew.

Cite this Source
Avoid and Abstain from. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/abstain_from/avoid
Abstain from & Avoid. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/abstain_from/avoid>.
Avoid or Abstain from. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/abstain_from/avoid.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "abstain from" and "avoid" have occurred on timeline