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 medieval image of rape—as the act of a violent stranger upon a chaste victim who goes straight to the authorities—persisted undisturbed in American courts through the nineteen-sixties. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 Traditionally, Hallmark’s have leaned a bit toward sweet and chaste, and by offering up something just a little bit different, Netflix has found its own niche within the genre. Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Nana’s Hui-yeon adds another layer of complexity to the narrative as a widow who has vowed to remain chaste but begins to question her feelings after encountering Cho Won. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025 Nana, whose Korean name is Im Jina, plays the role of Hui-yeon, a widow who vows to remain chaste after losing her husband. Sara Merican, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chaste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaste
Adjective
  • Transform any rejection into pure business motivation and wins.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • By pure chance, Prevost was shown on the MLB on FOX broadcast for that game at U.S. Cellular Field on Oct. 22, 2005, and the cameras caught him during the top of the ninth inning as the White Sox were clinching a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • Light pollution is the enemy of dark skies, and Teton County’s small, low light-impact communities help keep night skies pristine.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
  • Brimming with tiny hummingbirds and mighty bison alike, the North Rim is a living reminder of the Grand Canyon of yore, immersing guests into the pristine habitats that were once widespread across the western United States.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • The rooms are immaculate but lifeless, albeit with a surfeit of gold leaf.
    Peter Rutland, The Conversation, 9 May 2025
  • Monica and Joey had immaculate vibes in the pods, and that bubbly energy never really went away.
    Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Adjective
  • Think about it: the record companies forced them to be clean cut and preppy and all those things.
    Gary Gerard Hamilton, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023
  • Flathead is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, with clean, crystalline waters cradled in the Flathead Valley by the Mission Mountains to the east and the Salish Mountains to the west.
    Deb Hopewell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • The modest brick home, at just a bit over 1,000 square feet, was where Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, grew up.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
  • Those modest contracts won’t affect the Giants’ cap space immediately, since their cap hits fall below the team’s 51 most expensive contracts.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • The crux of the change for Tarantino is that the experience of theater is still unsullied, whereas with movies, people are on their phones and the theatrical window is teeny tiny.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Back in 2018, when Lasseter left the company, Docter moved up to Chief Creative Officer, as the Disney division tried to continue its unsullied record of major hits.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on chaste

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