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self-denial

noun

ˌself-di-ˈnī(-ə)l How to pronounce self-denial (audio)
Definition of self-denialnext
1
as in refusal
the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired dieting is an endless exercise in self-denial

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temperance
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites self-indulgent even when she was poor, she wasn't about to practice self-denial after getting rich

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 self-denial Crace transports readers two thousand years into the past to a stark Biblical landscape full of visceral encounters, violence, self-denial, and possible miracles. — Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 7 July 2025 But the biblical term for self-denial – inui – has another meaning. — Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2024 Loneliness gets to the heart of the spiritual dissatisfaction and self-denial seen post-Covid and in both the pro-Hamas and pro–George Floyd rioting. — Armond White, National Review, 10 May 2024 When the connection between them intensifies, Daniel becomes unsatisfied with clandestine hookups, wanting more, while Jack’s self-denial and wariness of potential exposure are tough habits to kick. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for self-denial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-denial
  1. refusal
  2. temperance
  3. denial
  4. renunciation
  5. abnegation
Noun
  • To Diana, who has taken over First Desk at the Park after last season’s events, River’s refusal to take bereavement leave gives her license to speak about his grandfather’s funeral arrangements with her usual cool formality.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • That refusal to chase the noise has shaped a career spanning four decades.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of refusal
Noun
  • Why Gen Z is embracing sober curious drinking Three forces are pulling Gen Z toward more selective drinking, and none of them look like old-school temperance.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The temperance movement was in full swing then, and the aversion to alcohol was especially strong in the rural South.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of temperance
Noun
  • Hamilton's denial follows a report Tuesday in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera which said Hamilton had asked for changes to Ferrari's trackside staff and that his relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur was strained.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • About a third of mortgage denials for primary home purchases with conventional loans in 2025 were due to a lack of credit history, according to Zillow’s analysis of 2025 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data.
    — Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of denial
Noun
  • This renunciation has had little impact on their progeny, who already studied them for years and viewed their content as a portrait of a viable future.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of renunciation
Noun
  • Not one for false abnegation of words distorted by smears, Rushdie doubles down on his right to freedom of expression, defending his dissent from religious orthodoxy.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
  • That, for me, feels like an abnegation of our responsibility in theater.
    — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of abnegation

Browse Nearby Words

self-critical
self-denial
self-denials
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Cite this Entry

“Self-denial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-denial. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on self-denial

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self-denial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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