Synonym Chooser

How is the word chaste distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of chaste are decent, modest, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How are the words modest and decent related as synonyms of chaste?

Both modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

How do pure and chaste relate to one another?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

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 chaste Our Lady was chaste, willingly, willfully passive, untainted by the grottiness of ordinary life. Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025 Some medieval and Renaissance artists, for example, portrayed Mary breast-feeding the infant Jesus at a chaste distance, such that the milk spurts of its own accord into his mouth. S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025 Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast. E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025 For many traditionalists, effective enforcement of this teaching would mean cracking down on homosexuality among the clergy, including gay clergy who are celibate and chaste. Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018 See All Example Sentences for chaste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaste
Adjective
  • But Russell’s performance was a beam of pure light, burning off any condescension.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
  • And while the Picoult engages a tougher subject (a school shooting and its fallout), the other three titles in this crop are pure romantasy.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Environmental group Sierra Club said development in the region would harm pristine landscapes that support tribes and wildlife.
    Reuters, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • With 12 knives that slice, chop, and dice with minimal effort (and a sharpening blade to keep their edges pristine), whipping up more elaborate meals is a bit easier.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Our field was immaculate and our team always looked great; first-class uniforms.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Kyle Schwarber's fit with the Philadelphia Phillies is immaculate, but 29 other teams will get the chance to bid on him this winter anyway.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That's right—a clean, nonpartisan funding bill.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • This change limited the state's ability to secure federal funds for energy efficiency projects, address emissions of climate-warming air pollutants at a statewide level, or promote cleaner technologies that don't rely on fossil fuels.
    Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That Sutton whipped out his limbs like Stretch Armstrong and hauled in the dart for a modest 5-yard gain seemed only like a harbinger in hindsight.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • While the amount of nutrients in a single serving may be modest, these foods provide important compounds that support a balanced diet in this healthy dish that touts complex flavors.
    Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Ghibli managed to do it in a way that was relatively independent and unsullied of that business.
    Ryan Gaur, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
  • The crux of the change for Tarantino is that the experience of theater is still unsullied, whereas with movies, people are on their phones and the theatrical window is teeny tiny.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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