1
as in temperance
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
a cleric vainly preaching abstinence in a world where self-indulgence is regarded as almost a virtue
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse
an AIDS-prevention program that relies primarily on abstinence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abstinence
Considering the all pervasiveness of AI viewing, total AI-abstinence is not a pragmatic approach.
—
Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
At the state level, some California Democrats have pushed legislation to amend the state’s housing first policy to allow more funding for abstinence-only treatment centers and sober living homes.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
The governmental obsession with abstinence was a purely American phenomenon.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
After announcing his abstinence from alcohol, Hamilton then partnered with Casa Lumbre co-founder and master distiller Iván Saldaña in October 2023.
—Logan Holland, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstinence
Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
At the state level, some California Democrats have pushed legislation to amend the state’s housing first policy to allow more funding for abstinence-only treatment centers and sober living homes.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
The governmental obsession with abstinence was a purely American phenomenon.
—Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2025
After announcing his abstinence from alcohol, Hamilton then partnered with Casa Lumbre co-founder and master distiller Iván Saldaña in October 2023.
—Logan Holland, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstinence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstinence
Noun
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The temperance movement, which aimed to reduce alcohol use, gained steam in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
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The movie clip reveals how much temperance, humanity, and transcendence Mary Jackson needs to navigate a system that has embedded injustices that few see or understand.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Their system, Aepnus Technology’s waste-to-reagent electrolyzer, has now logged thousands of hours converting sodium sulfate into high-purity caustic soda and sulfuric acid.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Sep. 2025
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Left-wing antisemitism, which cast Jews as greedy capitalists, existed as well, especially in France, but Jew-baiting remained primarily a right-wing pursuit, the work of illiberal nativists who saw a tiny minority as polluting the purity of their racial or religious communities.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Sheen is one of a number of celebrities who have been open about going through periods of celibacy.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Lee and her brother William would preach far and wide to attract people to their cause (a necessity, given the lifetime celibacy requirement) and their pursuit of a utopian society free of any and all sin.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The title that has become attached to the painting over time curiously characterizes the Virgin Mary by the fruit, perhaps in recognition of her chastity, especially when considered in the context of Persephone’s myth.—
Demir Alp,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Aug. 2025
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Some do it because they are caged for some reason or another and haven’t figured how to pop their cork while in chastity.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Janet and Brad are put in separate rooms and both are seduced in the night by a shape-shifting Frank – in Janet's case, losing her virginity.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Feldman, who made a real impression with Jennifer Lawrence as a 19-year-old losing his virginity in No Hard Feelings and has just replaced Darren Criss in the Tony-winning Maybe Happy Ending, is the perfect combo of nervous energy and sheer confusion as Sam.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstinence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstinence. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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