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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse
an AIDS-prevention program that relies primarily on abstinence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abstinence
During this time, fish fry dinners are very popular, as fish are excluded from the abstinence of meat.
—
Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
While abstinence from drugs is the only way to prevent overdose, testing can help decrease the risk of overdose when used in concert with other harm reduction strategies.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Second, when deciding between abstinence and occasional light drinking, the most relevant comparison for me is between people who drink lightly and those who never drink.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
The time to reoccurrence was longer in the coffee consumption group than in the abstinence group.
—Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstinence
Jelissa Burns, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
While abstinence from drugs is the only way to prevent overdose, testing can help decrease the risk of overdose when used in concert with other harm reduction strategies.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Second, when deciding between abstinence and occasional light drinking, the most relevant comparison for me is between people who drink lightly and those who never drink.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
The time to reoccurrence was longer in the coffee consumption group than in the abstinence group.
—Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abstinence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstinence
Noun
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On a single day in 1900, a former schoolteacher destroyed three saloons using bricks, rocks, and a billiard ball—all to advance the cause of temperance.—
The Atlantic Science Desk,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
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The financial incentive for airports and airlines to serve alcohol precludes temperance as a solution.—
Thomas Black,
Twin Cities,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Additionally, its purple (not blue) color, as well as its sheer mass at that level of purity means that in this stone’s formation, the conditions of the earth’s crust at that specific point under Sri Lanka were set up perfectly to generate not a tiny perfect thing, but a great big perfect thing.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Such channels could still have ads and provide a new revenue stream for Netflix, while a TCM channel could keep its sponsorships without ads to maintain the purity of the TCM brand.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nearly three centuries later, the Shaker founder could become an unlikely icon for Gen Z, who are bringing celibacy back in staggeringly high numbers, according to a slew of recent studies.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
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Their number grew while the utopian community lived in New Harmony thanks to a celibacy edict put in place by their founder George Rapp in 1807.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In a nutshell, chastity is the practice of orgasm denial, often through a device like a dedicated cage.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
1 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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The history of side-saddle, for example, comes from the fear that riding astride risks breaking a woman’s hymen, compromising the evidence of her virginity and, therefore, her value.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
13 Nov. 2025
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Spelling's character lost her virginity to her long-time boyfriend David (Brian Austin Green) in season seven, while the moment came much earlier for other characters.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abstinence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstinence. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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