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 The best time to prune chaste tree is in late winter. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025 Chihiro and Hiruhiko were engaging in the sort of passionate but chaste dude-bro melodrama that takes place only in shōnen manga. Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 To win the grand prize, 10 contestants must stay as chaste as possible in a house together for four weeks. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 July 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
  • My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm, and not ill-intended.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Sitting at a baby grand piano, Mars prompted swoons with his delivery of the lyrics, his pure voice holding notes with the same muscularity as early in the show.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Newsom, no longer a candidate for public office in California, and perhaps speaking to a national audience, even threw some shade on an agency that’s widely viewed as having kept much of the state’s 840-mile coastline comparatively pristine for the past 50 years.
    Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
  • My personal highlight was the day spent cruising Glacier Bay National Park, where the pristine land and seascapes look like a frosty wonderland.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • My mom [had] immaculate music taste and [played] me all the greats.
    Adelle Platon, VIBE.com, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The vibes have been immaculate from the batting order, to the pitching rotation, to the bullpen, and everywhere in between.
    Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Efficiency today comes from clean execution, not pushing harder.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Then, tumble dry on low heat with clean tennis balls or dryer balls to break up clumps and restore fluffiness.
    Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His modest production is a concern, but speed and athletic ability can’t be taught; technique can.
    Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Early data suggests the policies are beginning to have an effect — with a modest decline in short-term rental listings in Athens reported in 2026, Travel and Tour World said.
    Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Still, every few minutes, a treasure hunter finds an unsullied remnant and places it in a tote bag or basket for safe keeping.
    Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
  • With almost 13 million acres of the world’s most biodiverse rain forest, rich with jaguars, hummingbirds, and 2,000 butterfly species (take that, Costa Rica), plus some 1,800 miles of unsullied coastline, this country is poised for a tourism boom.
    John Bowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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