Definition of chastenext

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 There were other stories that bothered him more, like a post by a writer who recounted a chaste one-night stand with Tea Party activist and Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell that described her pubic hair. — Frank Digiacomo, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026 The songwriting is so chaste and disembodied that an Old Hollywood censor would have no problem greenlighting it. — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2026 Rue’s comparatively chaste behavior this season — including in scenes with high school love Jules (the always magnetic Hunter Schafer) — feels like a concession to Zendaya’s huge star power and public image. — Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Apr. 2026 Most notable of these other wives is Vrinda, the chaste wife of the demon Jalandhar. — Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chaste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaste
Adjective
  • Daniel’s legs are so sunburned that his feet look pure white.
    — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
  • As a matter of pure economics, this linkage may be debatable.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The designer also has a knack for giving his pristine clothes an heirloom quality, as much as they are rooted in the here and now.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Its pristine, almost peaceful harps make the song sound somehow pleasantly sickening.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The paperwork was immaculate, but nobody was watching for the renewal date.
    — Patrick O'Connor, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Texas Roadhouse isn't just a one-trick pony, though, as their appetizers — the cheese fries in particular — are immaculate, and their chili is some of the best in the biz.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • All in all, while not particularly remarkable, the on-site dining is a good option for those who value clean eating and don't want to drive very far to get it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • What started as a wellness blog that hosted conversations around clean beauty alternatives has turned into a viral business.
    — Charlotte Hu, Time, 30 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The Coopop Bobber is exactly that – an electric two-wheeler that borrows the visual swagger of a custom bobber and pairs it with the decidedly more modest performance of a European electric moped.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Even a modest slice of commerce flowing through AI agents would reshape how consumers shop, and travel is where that shift is already visible.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, evil is a native sickness that contaminates an otherwise perfect, unsullied child of empire.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • But the prosecutor leading the case against the Tates, Rareș Stan, had an unsullied reputation.
    — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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