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
Andrew Tate when a detective brings up the potential role of the involuntary celibacy subculture.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Speaking with host Sherri Shepherd, the R&B singer shared more on his past experience with practicing celibacy, as well as his thoughts on nontraditional relationships.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Mar. 2025
In the medieval church, women’s roles were limited – usually some form of enclosure and celibacy, such as becoming an anchoress walled up alone for life, or a nun in a classic convent.
—Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
In May last year, Julia Fox weighed in on controversial billboards by Bumble ads that appeared to mock celibacy.
—Angela Kahuru, refinery29.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for celibacy
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Speaking with host Sherri Shepherd, the R&B singer shared more on his past experience with practicing celibacy, as well as his thoughts on nontraditional relationships.
—Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 4 Mar. 2025
In the medieval church, women’s roles were limited – usually some form of enclosure and celibacy, such as becoming an anchoress walled up alone for life, or a nun in a classic convent.
—Joelle Rollo-Koster, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
In May last year, Julia Fox weighed in on controversial billboards by Bumble ads that appeared to mock celibacy.
—Angela Kahuru, refinery29.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for celibacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for celibacy
Noun
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Analysts suggest Moscow could potentially take custody of Iran’s uranium enriched to 60% purity — a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.—
Matthew Lee and Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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Western powers say Iran is refining uranium to a high degree of fissile purity beyond what is justifiable for a civilian energy programme and close to the level suitable for an atomic bomb.—
Guy Faulconbridge and Parisa Hafezi,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is certainly true with regard to his chastity, which Catholic writers extol in devotional literature.—
Emily Harnett,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
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Related Stories Robin Williams, who apparently has taken a vow of comic chastity since winning his Good Will Hunting Oscar, plays the robot who wants to be a man.—
Kirk Honeycutt,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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If your health, your sense of yourself, and your general feeling-tone are improved by abstinence, more power to you.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
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In the United States, the dominant view on how to manage addiction has traditionally been that abstinence is the best solution.—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Celibacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celibacy. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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