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
  • By the logic of pure procurement, AI bills should be shrinking.
    Roman Shemet, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The pure thermal spring water contains postbiotic microflora, which can calm the skin and reduce redness.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 21 July 2026
Adjective
  • The property also partners with the Ibiza Preservation Fund to help protect the Formentera’s famously pristine waters.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • Then customers can take a seat at a brown banquette and pristine white marble tables, dine at the bar or on the patio near the wine window.
    Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • Justine loves vintage, so the Mortons always look amazing, in clothing passed from generation to generation and kept in immaculate repair.
    Scott Westerfeld, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • This finish is an example of his two-footedness, enabling him to play across the forward line, and the immaculate timing of his runs.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • Briceno recommends coating both sides of the brush, wiping away any excess, and making sure the bristles come to a clean edge before applying.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
  • In some respects, our skies have gotten cleaner in the past few decades; average levels of fine particulate matter have been cut nearly in half since 2000.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • The last time anyone won the jackpot was on May 2, when winning tickets in Texas and Florida split a $20 million jackpot, fueling a rollover streak that has turned a modest prize into one of the year's largest lottery payouts.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 30 July 2026
  • In the decades since, the modest zebra crossing has become a pilgrimage site for generations of music lovers.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 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 31 Jul. 2026.

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