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abandonment

abandonment

26 3.6
Leaving someone or something and not coming back
  • noun
  • /əˈbændənmənt/
translation icon : abandono
  • The child experienced a profound sense of abandonment when her parents left her at the foster home.
  • complete abandonment
  • land abandonment
  • fears of abandonment

So to be Irish today is the abandonment of that shame.

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Examples

  • It's a huge space now left empty by Disney's abandonment of family values.

  • Over the following months, her mind became ever feebler, filled with wild allegations of infidelity or abandonment.

  • Second time, three kids for three years, it gives us a history of abandonment, a pattern.

  • Even as an adult, she would mention the abandonment, and it was the major theme in her fiction.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • However, its single greatest mistake has been its abandonment of the founding principles of the State of Israel itself.

    Academic text (2011)
  • What are the steps to not only repair that abandonment of self, but to also empower you to start keeping a promise to yourself?

  • In addition, the adoption of guns and metal tools resulted in the abandonment of native handicrafts.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Unrealistic targets can produce cynicism and indeed the abandonment of the planning process associated with them.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Once inside, these former workers faced the utter desolation that a year of abandonment and pillage had left.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Today's children are acutely aware of the abuse, abandonment, and deceit that some parents inflict on their children.

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

withdrawal
vsabandonment
281 4.1

Removing people or things from a place

focuses on complete giving up rather than just physical removal
exit
vsabandonment
129 1.0

The act of leaving a place or situation

is broader, covering permanent giving up not only leaving a place
riddance
vsabandonment
36 6.8

The act of getting rid of someone or something unwanted

is neutral, covering giving up regardless of whether it is unwanted
throwing away
vsabandonment
26 2.6

Getting rid of things you do not want

is broader, including giving up people, duties, or nonphysical things
desertion
vsabandonment
20 6.2

Leaving someone, a place, or a duty when you should stay to help

covers any complete giving up, not only where presence was required
disposition
vsabandonment
18 6.7

To get rid of something by throwing it away or selling it

is more general and also covers giving up people or duties
leaving
vsabandonment
4 1.0

The act of going away from a place or person

covers complete giving up that removes responsibility as well
renunciation
vsabandonment
  • Formal
2 8.2

An official act of giving up a right, claim, or thing you own

is less formal and covers giving up people and items
relinquishment
vsabandonment
  • Formal
1 8.2

The act of giving up a right, position, or responsibility

is broader, applying to giving up people or things too
dereliction
vsabandonment
1 8.2

A building or place left empty and not taken care of

is the act of leaving or discarding itself rather than neglect focus
forsaking
vsabandonment
1 7.4

Giving up someone or something and leaving them behind

is the general act of giving up or discarding without that personal tone
relinquishing
vsabandonment
  • Formal
1 7.7

Giving up a right, job, or thing you own

is the wider process of giving up beyond rights or claims
renouncement
vsabandonment
  • Formal
1 8.9

To give up a right, title, or claim in a formal way

is the general process of giving something up without formal statement

Antonyms

90 3.8

Keeping things safe and in good condition, for example food or buildings

23 4.2

Keeping something so you still have it

How Complete

abandonment
26 3.6
relinquishment
  • Formal
1 8.2
neglect
100 3.5

Surface Forms

abandonment singular
abandonments plural

Morphology

abandonment = abandon (transparent) = abandon + ment

Nominalization from 'abandon' with '-ment' gives 'the act or process of abandoning', directly matching this sense.

Etymology

Abandonment comes from Old French parts a- and bandon, where bandon means 'control' or 'power'. So abandonment is the act of 'giving up control' or leaving something completely, which is why it means stopping or leaving something behind.