monastic

play

adjective mo·nas·tic \ mə-ˈnas-tik \

Definition of monastic

1 :of or relating to monasteries or to monks or nuns

the rituals of monastic life

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

shows a monastic dedication to his job

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monastic

noun

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monastically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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monasticism

play \-tə-ˌsi-zəm\ noun

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Examples of monastic in a Sentence

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 of monastic from the Web

Their days are spent chafing at monastic routine until Father Tommasso (Reilly) brings on new hired hand Massetto (Franco), a virile young servant forced into hiding by his angry lord.

— jeff baena, Detroit Free Press, "‘Little Hours’ is a sex romp featuring medieval nuns," 21 July 2017
The History The earliest record of the property is from 1064, when it was owned by the monastic order, the Abbey of Saint Victor de Marseille.

— james tarmy, Bloomberg.com, "Own a 1,000-Year Old Castle in France for $17 Million," 11 July 2017
The creepy beasties in the Nelson’s painting tempt the monastic St. Anthony with food, booze and gruesome thoughts.

— david frese, kansascity.com, "Rare Bosch painting, just one of five in U.S., finally on display at the Nelson," 28 June 2017
And yet Sullivan proves to be just as deft and insightful about the complementary challenges that a monastic family faces.

— ron charles, chicagotribune.com, "J. Courtney Sullivan's 'Saints for All Occasions' is this year's best book about family," 15 May 2017
Her work is illuminating for its taut blend of sombre, monastic progressions and theatrical vocalizing reminiscent of downtown street performance, a whimsical twist on the secular hymns of Leonard Cohen.

— The New Yorker, "Baby Dee," 31 Mar. 2017
At the Nomos workshop, a monastic silence prevailed as men and women (there are more of the latter than the former) sat at desks, wearing what looked like pink finger condoms and sifting through parts, some of them thinner than a human hair.

— gary shteyngart, The New Yorker, "Confessions of a Watch Geek," 20 Mar. 2017
The Hinayana school stressed the importance of monastic life as the only real path to liberation.

— chandrahas choudhury, WSJ, "The Buddha’s Brilliant Deception," 22 Dec. 2016
Many of the women who buy their clothes, which are elegant and faintly monastic, are decades older than the designers, who are not yet 30.

— matthew schneier, New York Times, "Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Make a Home for the Row in New York," 25 May 2016

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.