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 By bedtime, Jeremiah and Huda are already making out under the covers and Belle-A has negotiated one chaste spoon with Nic, but no one else seems ready to get close. Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 4 June 2025 Our Lady was chaste, willingly, willfully passive, untainted by the grottiness of ordinary life. Lamorna Ash, The Dial, 6 May 2025 Some medieval and Renaissance artists, for example, portrayed Mary breast-feeding the infant Jesus at a chaste distance, such that the milk spurts of its own accord into his mouth. S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 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
  • But from a pure wrestling standpoint, Styles-Nakamura.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
  • Their expertise and pure joy for all the young talents growing and achieving through their guidance and support uplifts the enthusiastic energy of the teammates, their families and the entire ranch, according to the news release.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Some students — like the owner of a pristine 1960s Chevrolet Impala — entertained a crowd of oglers with their immaculate engine bays and pristine paint jobs.
    Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Liis Studied feels like nesting, whether that’s on a pristine white couch with a fluffy blanket, under the covers in bed, or tucked away in the corner of a cozy bookstore.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The year is 2016, and the vibes are immaculate.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Snow can be other colors, too Despite its immaculate reputation, snow isn’t always white.
    Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • From Katrina To The Caribbean One of Sesame Solar’s earliest proving grounds came after Hurricane Maria, when a mobile nanogrid was deployed to power a remote health clinic in Dominica, supporting medical equipment, refrigeration, clean water, and communications within hours of arrival.
    Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • The interior compartments have a wipe-clean lining, so leaking or spilled products are no problem.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Starring frontman JayDee of the trap corridos outfit Herencia de Patrones as an aspiring singer-songwriter in north-central California, the modest enterprise was originally scheduled for release months ago, then delayed till the doldrums of January instead.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
  • And different areas might get more modest snowfall or perhaps merely a cold and soggy day.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • January 2, 2024 The Rugged Cool of California's Santa Ynez Wine Country The pure, unsullied California-ness of the Santa Ynez Valley, a tiny wine region inland from the Central Coast, has turned it into one of the state's most popular weekend getaways.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Dec. 2025
  • Ghibli managed to do it in a way that was relatively independent and unsullied of that business.
    Ryan Gaur, IndieWire, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

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