abandoned

[uh-ban-duhnd]

adjective

1. forsaken or deserted.

   an abandoned building; an abandoned kitten.

2. unrestrained or uncontrolled; uninhibited.

   She danced with abandoned enthusiasm.

3. utterly lacking in moral restraints; shameless; wicked.

   an abandoned and dissolute ruler.

abandoned

/ əˈbændənd /

adjective

1. deserted

   an abandoned windmill

2. forsaken

   an abandoned child

3. unrestrained; uninhibited

   wild, abandoned dancing

4. depraved; profligate

Other Word Forms

• abandonedly adverb
• half-abandoned adjective
• unabandoned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abandoned¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; abandon + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See immoral.

Example Sentences

At the re-start, the drivers had enough time for a flying lap, but Norris abandoned after starting badly.

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Beijing has abandoned several infrastructure projects and now relies almost entirely on Venezuela crude exports to satisfy its debt arrears.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Future Link in 2021, according to the complaint, filed a series of patent lawsuits that it then abandoned after it had generated substantial legal costs for Realtek across a year and a half.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

News reports have identified many instances where crops have been left to rot in abandoned fields.

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That agreement was, however, abandoned by President George W. Bush.

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