variants
also ascetical
as in monastic
formal
relating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure
He committed to having an ascetic existence during his rehab. an ascetic diet of rice and beans
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Dissimilar Words
as in prude
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ascetic
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Later in life Foucault will become more ascetic, but not yet.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Adjective
Housed in a bulletproof case, the delicate bones reveal the saint’s ascetic life while strict security protects relics from historical theft.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Later in life Foucault will become more ascetic, but not yet.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
With a few edits, the book could pass for an anarchist tract; with a few more, for the work of a Christian ascetic.
—Cal Revely-Calder, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascetic
Adjective
-
Maroon and golden monastic robes had replaced his usual hoodies and sweatpants.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
The Augustinians retain ownership of the buildings, and guests can take a tour of the historic library, monastery, and chapel with one of the monks who still live in the separate monastic quarters.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Martha didn’t want to be a prude.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In fact, the prudes among us might need hand fans.—
Sandra Gonzalez,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Regardless of why Americans express neutrality, those who do so are just as likely to vote for authoritarian politicians as the relatively small number of Americans (less than 1 in 5) who explicitly support undemocratic practices.—
Matthew E.K. Hall,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
-
Safety regulations – intended to constrain corporate power – in authoritarian regimes become tools to coerce compliance.—
Michael Gregory,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Calvano will play Joni, Ginger’s daughter, and a budding lawyer who’s a super straight arrow.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Good student, good football player, straight arrow.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The more exacting work, however, awaits in the lab, where Ayikpa and others must manually count individual microfibers from each sample under a microscope, then repeat the eye-straining analysis with air samples from high-volume vacuum samplers and real-time sensors.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
-
But the goods are here, and Mysius is an exacting, exhilarating filmmaker who is more than ready to be leveled up.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fatu has been unrelenting and challenged him to Tribal Combat, which should end the bitter feud.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Though work continues to be handled outside the Trop, a workload with increasing demands with the summer months upon us, the Rays’ grounds crew takes care of a field inside without having to change clothes multiple times per day while toiling in unrelenting heat and humidity.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation have been adamant that many of the major road closures and resurfacing projects are unrelated to the World Cup, and therefore are on a multi-year timeline.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Healthcare advocates are equally adamant.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Designed with the neighboring 12th-century Abbaye de Sénaque in mind, the monkish minimalism—polished dark wood, long, bone-white corridors—add to the unique quality of this attractive space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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In an age of algorithmic din, Feldman’s appeal lies in his unhurried, monkish devotion to the elementals of sound.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ascetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascetic. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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