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
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in prude
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ascetic
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 June 2025
Meanwhile, narratives of Ayyappan usually describe him as a god raised as a human prince who becomes a warrior and finally an ascetic.
—Deepa Das Acevedo, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2019
This is especially clear in the contrast between Marcus Luria and his father, the ascetic sage Zalia Ziskind.
—Adam Kirsch, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
While Mathu is an ascetic loner, Malby was a hedonistic womanizer.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Noun
But Pascal, for all the twinkle in his eye, often plays relatively sexless characters — from the fatherly energy of The Last of Us to the ascetic qualities of The Mandalorian.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 June 2025
Meanwhile, narratives of Ayyappan usually describe him as a god raised as a human prince who becomes a warrior and finally an ascetic.
—Deepa Das Acevedo, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2019
This is especially clear in the contrast between Marcus Luria and his father, the ascetic sage Zalia Ziskind.
—Adam Kirsch, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
While Mathu is an ascetic loner, Malby was a hedonistic womanizer.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascetic
Adjective
-
On Monday, the Buddhist Association of China said in a statement that Shi had been stripped of his ordination certificate – an official proof of a monk’s or nun’s qualification to enter monastic life.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
-
Taste of Tibet Everyone is welcome to try authentic Tibetan meals in a true, monastic atmosphere.—
Caroline Ritzie,
The Enquirer,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Give the Original ‘Twister’ a Spin Barbara Peeters is no prude.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
19 July 2024
-
Despite a handful of prudes trying their best to spoil the fun.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
4 July 2024
Adjective
-
The interim government, formed shortly afterward under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, was widely hailed as a new chapter for Bangladesh: a chance to repair years of authoritarian rule, enforced disappearances, corruption and human rights abuses.—
Shamim Chowdhury,
NPR,
5 Aug. 2025
-
For any authoritarian regime, political succession is a moment of peril, and for all its strengths, the CCP is no exception.—
TYLER JOST,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There’s often some kind of hitch, but still, most agents are straight arrows who play by the book.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2025
-
Purdy was such a straight arrow as a kid, his worst transgressions were playing doorbell ditch, Patchett said.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
The Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
The princess line reached its apogee around the turn of the century, in the creations of Jean-Philippe for the House of Worth’s most exacting and original client, Élisabeth de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay, a.k.a.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
-
Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the more exacting standard raises questions about whether Tennessee’s law would survive.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
The unrelenting eye contact of a Labubu (or Lafufu).—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The production was high-end, including an unrelenting barrage of fire-and-bang pyrotechnics to go with the smoldering bedroom fare.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
However, Coast Guard officials were adamant that FEMA makes the ultimate decision, and that FEMA’s choices may differ from the Coast Guard’s recommendations.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
30 July 2025
-
However, she’s remained adamant that to pull off paying homage to the famed actress, everything must be done right.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Obama has retreated into monkish silence, broken only for special occasions such as celebrity deaths and the recording of Bruce Springsteen podcasts.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
17 July 2024
-
Cillian Murphy is not sitting at home in monkish penury.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ascetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascetic. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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