Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

continence

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of continence

1 abstention from sexual intercourse

  • argued for a pregnancy-prevention program that did not put so much faith in the continence of teenagers
Synonyms of continence

abstinence, celibacy, chasteness, chastity
Words Related to continence

modesty, purity

honor, innocence, virginity, virtue
Near Antonyms of continence

debauchery, lechery, licentiousness, venery, wenching, whoring

2 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others

  • experiencing a moment of unusual continence, I refrained from returning her gratuitous insult
Synonyms of continence

constraint, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, repression, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression
Words Related to continence

command, control, mastery, possession

self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower

composure, self-poise, self-possession

aloofness, detachedness, distance

bashfulness, modesty, shyness

reticence, silence, taciturnity
Near Antonyms of continence

self-abandonment, uninhibitedness

unrestrainedness

gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence

bluntness, candor, frankness

immoderacy, intemperance
Antonyms of continence

disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

3 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions

  • a religious sect that demanded nearly superhuman continence from its adherents
Synonyms of continence

restraint, self-command, self-containment, self-control, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, self-possession, self-restraint, will, willpower
Words Related to continence

self-abnegation, self-denial

moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness

determination, nerve

command, control, discipline, mastery

abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance

abstinence, soberness, sobriety

aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-confidence

discretion
Near Antonyms of continence

gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence

excessiveness, immoderacy, intemperance, intemperateness, overindulgence

demerit, failing, fault, feebleness, foible, frailty, shortcoming, vice, weakness

indiscipline, unconstraint, unreserve, unreservedness, unrestraint

4 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites

  • a gambling mecca that has a reputation for being the sort of place where caution and continence are thrown to the wind
Synonyms of continence

abstinence, self-abnegation, self-denial, sobriety, temperance
Words Related to continence

control, forbearance, restraint

discipline, self-command, self-control, self-discipline, self-mastery

asceticism, austerity
Near Antonyms of continence

gluttony, greed, rapaciousness, rapacity, voraciousness, voracity

hedonism, sensuality, sybaritism
Antonyms of continence

self-indulgence

Learn More about continence

  1. Dictionary: Definition of continence Medical Dictionary: Definition of continence Nglish: Translation of continence for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up continence? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

secrete

to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. Spartan Red Cross Warns of Shelter Conditions

  2. hirsute RIP Burt Reynolds

  3. op-ed NYT Publishes Anonymous Piece

  4. collegiality Kavanaugh Mentions Word in Hearing

  5. mistrial Manafort Guilty on 8 Counts

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games