monastic

1 of 2

adjective

mo·nas·tic mə-ˈna-stik

Synonyms of monastic next

: of or relating to monasteries or to monks or nuns

the rituals of monastic life

: resembling (as in seclusion or ascetic simplicity) life in a monastery

shows a monastic dedication to his job

monastically

mə-ˈna-sti-k(ə-)lē

adverb

monasticism

mə-ˈna-stə-ˌsi-zəm

noun

monastic

2 of 2

noun

plural monastics

: a member of a monastic order : a person (such as a monk) who lives under religious vows

Monastics are people who … every day try hard to become part of a community—to relinquish aspects of the very egoism the rest of us spend our lives, in various ways, trying to enhance.—

Robert Coles

Example Sentences

Adjective He founded a monastic order in Belgium. He shows a monastic dedication to his job. She studied for the test with monastic zeal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Slavery and the American Revolution, notes of a social climber, monastic distractions, a French thriller and more. —

Harold Holzer, WSJ, 20 Jan. 2023 Iyer writes about both that secular market for paradise and the religious pursuit of heaven or Nirvana in distant, monastic destinations for the faithful. —

Bilal Qureshi, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2023 But my near-monastic life in San Bernardino did afford me plenty of time to listen intently to my albums, day after day. —

San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Jan. 2023 The interior of mission control was monastic and methodical, but just outside it the crowd chattered, laughed and swayed, creating a skittish atmosphere of nervous energy. —

David W. Brown, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022 The New Melleray Trappists will be at home with their monastic family, too. —

The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Dec. 2022 Residences include the monastic Antwerp apartment of Belgian designer Vincent Van Duysen (who designed Kim Kardashian’s Calabasas condo) and Ash NYC co-founder Ari Heckman’s serene Soho loft. —

Curbed Staff, Curbed, 8 Nov. 2022 Their work draws from Black music of the South, blues, gospel, wailing and Eastern monastic traditions. —

Dallas News, 4 Nov. 2022 Charmless highways connect pop-up townships across the empty Changthang; instant cityscapes dwarf the old monastic towns. —

Arman Khan, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2022 See More

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