abstinent

Definition of abstinentnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstinent
Adjective
  • Once inside, warm, tropical breezes flow into the hotel’s ascetic, nevertheless grand lobby, wafting you towards a magical cloister filled with plants and robust Botero sculptures.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The bulk of the album has been painted with a similarly ascetic palette.
    Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 Jan. 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
  • His first term now looks practically abstemious.
    Erin Neil, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • His tone is temperate, but the words echo through the State Capitol’s Assembly chamber, the august backdrop for his speech.
    Maya Singer, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Their distribution appears to be worldwide, but sparse, spanning tropical and temperate waters at depths between 820-4,921 feet (250-1,500 meters).
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Marquette is offering free breakfast burritos, game day snacks and a dessert bar at a sober tailgate party.
    Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 3 Feb. 2026
  • McEnroe is now sober, and living with his wife and dog in Upstate New York.
    Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • In addition to routes that go into the suburbs around the city, the cross-continent metro line known as the Marmaray connects the metro systems on both the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
    Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abstinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstinent. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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