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
  • This butternut squash pasta is pure comfort, with roasted squash, garlic, and shallots blended into a creamy, smooth sauce.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026
  • Minions & Monsters kept its familiar chaos intact, but its turn toward sentiment may have left behind some of the pure silliness that built its core audience at home.
    David Deal, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Adjective
  • The 2026 All-Star is lauded for his pristine command across 14 MLB seasons.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026
  • The top is pristine and has abstract gold buttons that look like they could be taken straight from a Donna Karan runway.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • And his fit with what the Celtics love to do, which is shoot 3-pointers, is an immaculate one.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • One thing Princess Diana was never without was an immaculate French manicure.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • When the groomer is finished, your dog comes back to the door clean and done.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
  • Morning favors simple check-ins and clean promises, while the afternoon invites steady follow-through.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • Founded by Colombian immigrant Julian Montoya, the modest stand became a cultural touchstone.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Your analytical eye notices small details that make a big impression, while your modest warmth invites genuine connection without forcing it.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Adjective
  • But the prosecutor leading the case against the Tates, Rareș Stan, had an unsullied reputation.
    Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • For those who have lost everything so others can appear unsullied, the only recourse may be getting what they’re owed in blood.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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