-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
self-denial
noun
self-de·ni·al
ˌself-di-ˈnī(-ə)l
: a restraint or limitation of one's own desires or interests
Examples of self-denial in a Sentence
dieting is an endless exercise in self-denial
self-indulgent even when she was poor, she wasn't about to practice self-denial after getting rich
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Crace transports readers 2,000 years into the past to a stark Biblical landscape full of visceral encounters, violence, self-denial, and possible miracles.
—Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2024
The last week of January in particular would be an excellent time to decamp somewhere pretty, travel for pleasure, or do some spiritual seeking (but maybe the kind that comes with laughter and good food, and not strict rules and self-denial).
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Dec. 2023
Shocking self-indulgence sits cheek by jowl with self-denial.
—Tobi Haslett, Harper's Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
That an ancient philosophy based on self-denial could find an audience among TikTokers, subredditors, and gladiatorial millionaires suggested two possibilities: Stoicism either had quite a lot going for it, or nothing at all.
—Tom Bissell, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1605, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near self-denial
Cite this Entry
“Self-denial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-denial. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
self-denial
noun
self-de·ni·al
ˌself-di-ˈnī(-ə)l
: the refusal to satisfy one's own desires
More from Merriam-Webster on self-denial
Nglish: Translation of self-denial for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self-denial
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share