as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse
a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife
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Recent Examples of celibacy
Omarion has been very open about his intense celibacy experience in the past, previously discussing it last summer during a sit-down with the Know Thyself podcast.
—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
The rise in celibacy speaks to their desire for healthier relationships, both with themselves and others, and that's a powerful statement.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
This assertion that Mary was a child of a well-to-do family might have some historical validity since this text was composed at a time when the poverty and celibacy of the Holy Family had become associated with her nunlike virtue.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for celibacy
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025
The rise in celibacy speaks to their desire for healthier relationships, both with themselves and others, and that's a powerful statement.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
This assertion that Mary was a child of a well-to-do family might have some historical validity since this text was composed at a time when the poverty and celibacy of the Holy Family had become associated with her nunlike virtue.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for celibacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for celibacy
Noun
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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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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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But Cygnet Infinity—which received gold at the Spirits Business’s Low & No Masters 2026 Awards—is less about abstinence than embracement.—
Nick Scott,
Robb Report,
19 Jan. 2026
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For decades, tobacco policy has been built around the idea that the only acceptable endpoint is abstinence.—
Kevin Bardosh,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Celibacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celibacy. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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