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
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Recent Examples of self-denial
Automatic contributions, delayed payment windows, small rituals that add friction to impulse spending — these are all behavioral architecture moves, not acts of self-denial.
—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
At the beginning of her relationship with John, Carolyn’s central problem was that being part of the Kennedy family demanded some level of self-denial.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church for a service that emphasizes the start of a season of reflection, self-denial and repentance from sin.
—
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Old family patterns or inner-child wounds could surface, not to derail you, but to remind you that leadership doesn’t mean emotional self-denial.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
21 Dec. 2025
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
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
At the beginning of her relationship with John, Carolyn’s central problem was that being part of the Kennedy family demanded some level of self-denial.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
On Ash Wednesday, many Christians go to church for a service that emphasizes the start of a season of reflection, self-denial and repentance from sin.
—
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Old family patterns or inner-child wounds could surface, not to derail you, but to remind you that leadership doesn’t mean emotional self-denial.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
21 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-denial
Noun
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The stat might reflect a mere delay rather than a total refusal — Bain’s research suggests most people still get licenses by age 25.
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His refusal to do so jeopardizes public safety.
Noun
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In the winter of 1920, the United States entered Prohibition in the United States after years of campaigning by temperance groups who believed alcohol sat at the root of many social ills.
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Another was promoting temperance realizing alcoholism could destroy families.
Noun
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Their desperate hope, their cruel denial still weigh on this nation’s soul 87 years later, though most Americans only caught glimpses of the doomed passengers through news reels.
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Iraq were the weakest in this section and, when Rebin Sulaka pulled back Sadio Mane in the 13th minute, he was dismissed for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Noun
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Rules have changed over decades, so some claims succeed while others face hurdles like formal renunciation.
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Carney is a moralist, a filmmaker of fidelity—and of renunciation, depicting the romantic near-misses and what-ifs that his characters leave behind.
Noun
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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.
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That, for me, feels like an abnegation of our responsibility in theater.
Cite this Entry
“Self-denial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-denial. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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