abstained
Didn't partake voluntarily
Abstained is the past tense of abstain, meaning to deliberately hold back from doing something, especially something enjoyable or habitual.
People abstain from alcohol, voting, or sex for personal, religious, or strategic reasons.
She abstained from dessert while dieting.
In formal votes, those who abstain neither support nor oppose a measure, registering their presence without taking a side.
Three senators abstained on the controversial bill.
Chose not to act
- withheldKept from giving
- declinedRefused or diminished
- forewentVoluntarily gave up
- eschewedDeliberately kept away from
resisted · avoided · shunned · renounced · spurned · abjured · waived · forbore
Mental strength resisting impulse
- restraintControl over impulses
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
self-denial · self-restraint · forbearance · continence · self-mastery · prudence · stoicism · asceticism
Refusal to be involved
- withholdRefuse to give
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- neutralityState of taking sides
- voteFormal choice expression
resolution · parliament · senate · legislature · quorum · proxy · bloc · caucus
Total sobriety as principle
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
- detoxSubstance removal process
- soberFree from intoxication
- dryFree from moisture
straightedge · temperance · twelve-step · clean · clearheaded · nondrinking · prohibition · wagon
Abstaining from sexual activity
Christian fasting season
- RamadanNinth Islamic month
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- vigilPurposeful nighttime wakefulness
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
cleansing · renunciation · dietary · vow · observance · ritual · religious · spiritual
refrained
Chose not to act
eschewed · resisted · avoided · shunned · renounced · spurned · abjured · waived · forbore · desisted
willpower
Mental strength resisting impulse
- restraintControl over impulses
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- moderationAvoidance of excess
self-control · self-denial · self-restraint · forbearance · continence · self-mastery · prudence · stoicism · asceticism · discipline
nonparticipation
Refusal to be involved
- withholdRefuse to give
- boycottOrganized economic protest
- neutralityState of taking sides
vote · resolution · parliament · senate · legislature · quorum · proxy · bloc · caucus · bipartisan
teetotalism
Total sobriety as principle
dry · straightedge · temperance · twelve-step · clean · clearheaded · nondrinking · prohibition · wagon · rehab
chaste
Abstaining from sexual activity
Lent
Christian fasting season
- RamadanNinth Islamic month
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- vigilPurposeful nighttime wakefulness
purification · cleansing · renunciation · dietary · vow · observance · ritual · religious · spiritual
- surrenderedsurrendered, capitulated, yielded, conceded, submitted
abstainedparticipated
Took an active role
engaged · joined in · took part · got involved · acted
abstainedvoted
Cast a ballot
cast a vote · accepted · decided · approved · took a stand