Definition of chastenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word chaste distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of chaste are decent, modest, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How are the words modest and decent related as synonyms of chaste?

Both modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

How do pure and chaste relate to one another?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

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 chaste The songwriting is so chaste and disembodied that an Old Hollywood censor would have no problem greenlighting it. Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2026 Rue’s comparatively chaste behavior this season — including in scenes with high school love Jules (the always magnetic Hunter Schafer) — feels like a concession to Zendaya’s huge star power and public image. Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026 Most notable of these other wives is Vrinda, the chaste wife of the demon Jalandhar. Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026 The best time to prune chaste tree is in late winter. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chaste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaste
Adjective
  • The signature smart bed lifts at the head so guests can prop up and watch television, a feature born of pure necessity.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
  • At its purest level, football’s appeal lies in its universality.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • Weeds had overrun our once pristine garden beds.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 14 June 2026
  • Certified in 2007 as the world’s first Dark Sky Park, this remote Utah monument pairs pristine skies with natural stone arches that make striking foregrounds for night photography.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Adjective
  • This season, the vibes remained immaculate.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • The Astros are the first team to throw two immaculate innings in the same game, as Luis Garcia strikes out the side on nine pitches in the 2nd, and Phil Maton repeats the feat in the 7th.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • There will be significant clean-sheet hopes with him, too.
    Holly Shand, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • During a phase of sleep called slow-wave, the brain’s vascular system pulses rhythmically, literally pumping cerebrospinal fluid through its innards and washing them clean.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • At a billion scans a month, even modest rates imply hundreds of millions of ambiguous results a year, each one demanding a clinical decision and producing a worried customer.
    Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Dial it over to Sport mode, and the VLE is properly perky, leaping forward with just a modest flex of your right ankle.
    Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • But the prosecutor leading the case against the Tates, Rareș Stan, had an unsullied reputation.
    Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • For those who have lost everything so others can appear unsullied, the only recourse may be getting what they’re owed in blood.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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