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ascetic

adjective as·cet·ic \ ə-ˈse-tik , a- \
variants: or less commonly ascetical play \ə-ˈse-ti-kəl\
|Updated on: 23 Jun 2018

Definition of ascetic

1 : practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline
  • an ascetic monk
  • an ascetic diet
2 : austere in appearance, manner, or attitude
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ascetic

noun
—

ascetically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
—

asceticism

play \ə-ˈse-tə-ˌsi-zəm\ noun

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Examples of ascetic in a Sentence

  1. Patterson's collection begins on the walls of the stairway to his basement. "That's where Cindy draws the line. That's probably a real good idea," he says. Mattsson, ascetic for a bachelor, imposes the same rule on himself. LeBeau, who has never been married, is much less restrained. —Tom Harpole,  Air & Space,  December 1999/January 2000
  2. By Hollywood standards, Calley's career path may seem enigmatic, but then, so is his personality. If Mark Canton, the previous Sony president, was the boastful, Armani-clad big spender, Calley is downright ascetic, a man who disdains Hollywood profligacy. —Peter Bart,  GQ,  August 1997
  3. He converted to Catholicism and, after a long period of intense self-questioning, became a Trappist monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, which, at the time, was as ascetic and demanding as any monastery of the Middle Ages. —Julius Lester,  Falling Pieces of the Broken Sky,  1990

Recent Examples of ascetic from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ascetic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Ascetic comes from "askētikos," a Greek adjective meaning "laborious," and ultimately traces back to the Greek verb askein, which means "exercise" or "work." There aren't many other English words from "askein," but there's no dearth of synonyms for "ascetic." "Severe" and "austere," for example, are two words that share with "ascetic" the basic meaning "given to or marked by strict discipline and firm restraint." "Ascetic" implies abstention from pleasure, comfort, or self-indulgence as a spiritual discipline, whereas "severe" implies standards enforced without indulgence or laxity and may suggest harshness (as in "severe military discipline"). "Austere" stresses absence of warmth, color, or feeling and may apply to rigorous restraint, simplicity, or self-denial (as in "living an austere life in the country").

Origin and Etymology of ascetic

Greek askētikos, literally, laborious, from askētēs one that exercises, hermit, from askein to work, exercise

Synonym Discussion of ascetic

severe, stern, austere, ascetic mean given to or marked by strict discipline and firm restraint. severe implies standards enforced without indulgence or laxity and may suggest harshness.
    • severe military discipline
stern stresses inflexibility and inexorability of temper or character.
    • stern arbiters of public morality
austere stresses absence of warmth, color, or feeling and may apply to rigorous restraint, simplicity, or self-denial.
    • living an austere life in the country
ascetic implies abstention from pleasure and comfort or self-indulgence as spiritual discipline.
    • the ascetic life of the monks

ASCETIC Defined for English Language Learners

ascetic

adjective

Definition of ascetic for English Language Learners

  • : relating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure

Learn More about ascetic

  1. See words that rhyme with ascetic Spanish Central: Translation of ascetic Nglish: Translation of ascetic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ascetic for Arabic speakers

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