as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of celibacy But Cole is resolute in his pre-marital celibacy. Big Think, 26 Mar. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for celibacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for celibacy
Noun
  • The agencies then market the idols as paragons of innocence to a mostly male, older fanbase that prizes their looks, perceived purity and emotional accessibility over their limited skill as pop performers.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
  • Third-party testing To address claims of effectiveness from brands, many reputable manufacturers utilize third-party testing to validate the quality and purity of their ingredients.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • He’s taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and lived in a community with other priests.
    Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025
  • The dismissal came after a more than year long dispute between the nuns and the diocese that began when Olson investigated a report that the nuns’ leader, the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, broke her chastity vows with a priest from outside the diocese.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • By 1982, schools in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio had challenged the book for not promoting abstinence or monogamy.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 8 May 2025
  • Studies suggest cannabis may help individuals maintain alcohol abstinence, with some patients reporting it as an effective substitute.
    Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Celibacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celibacy. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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