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
  • That level of play, led by stellar pitching, pristine defense and timely offense finally coalescing, has lent credence to the belief this team can be a contender in a topsy-turvy AL despite an atrocious start to the year.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • This deep price drop completely sweeps away the financial barrier typically attached to high-power smart floor robots, giving busy families, pet owners, and apartment dwellers an easy way to maintain pristine floors.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 July 2026
Adjective
  • 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
  • Throughout the day, the vibes were laid-back and (even with the heat and rain) pretty immaculate.
    Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • Marble fireplaces and bespoke timber joinery soften a palette of black, white and brushed brass, while parquet floors bring warmth beneath the clean geometry.
    Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • In a paper published this month in PLOS One, Alaei and her colleagues propose an alternative - employing a suite of superworms, a kind of hefty beetle larva that can capably pick a variety of animal skeletons clean.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • Across the country, states with relatively modest grocery prices often have lower incomes, higher poverty rates or greater dependence on nutrition assistance.
    Hank Cardello, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The film follows a modest family on the outskirts of Tehran who faces the imminent destruction of their home as part of a vast redevelopment project.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 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 25 Jul. 2026.

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