as in ascetic
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
grew up in a family where abstinent behavior was expected and self-indulgence of any kind was scorned and castigated
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Recent Examples of abstinent
Some people want to remain abstinent to focus on their own personal growth, while others have resorted to it after becoming frustrated with today's dating culture.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Ivan Neville has been on a few times and always talks being abstinent.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
As a purist, Murray defines sobriety as being completely abstinent from habit-forming substances that could cause dependency, including prescription drugs like Xanax and Suboxone.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Ivan Neville has been on a few times and always talks being abstinent.
—Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
As a purist, Murray defines sobriety as being completely abstinent from habit-forming substances that could cause dependency, including prescription drugs like Xanax and Suboxone.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstinent
Adjective
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Housed in a bulletproof case, the delicate bones reveal the saint’s ascetic life while strict security protects relics from historical theft.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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Later in life Foucault will become more ascetic, but not yet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Lunchtimes are more abstemious with avocado and tuna packed poke bowls and watermelon salad at the W lounge.—
Jemima Sissons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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His first term now looks practically abstemious.—
Erin Neil,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The family live in the temperate coastal city of Newcastle, which is 1,200 miles south of Australia's crocodile habitat in the tropical north.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
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With warm temperatures in the summer that remain temperate through the winter, there’s never a bad time to visit Biloxi.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Specifically, Hawley wanted to see what sort of chaotic energy might be released when improv comics like those on Dropout collided with the sober cops of The Rookie.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
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Now in her 50s and sober, Teeters has found her sense of purpose.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The multi-continent international scenario does not sit well with several 49ers, who also will play games from coast to coast in the United States.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Goodee has one of the best stocks of artisan-made, one-of-a-kind homewares that don’t require a cross-continent trip to collect.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
30 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstinent. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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