continent 1 of 2

Definition of continentnext
as in mainland
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

continent

2 of 2

adjective

as in temperate
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 continent
Noun
Russia and the United States are in dispute over renewing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, intended to ban IRBMs entirely and reduce the threat of nuclear-capable missile on the European continent. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026 Its supply chain spans continents — chemical precursors from China, synthesized in Mexico, and transported across the southern border in quantities small enough to evade traditional enforcement — before spreading into communities far from any border. Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Her razor-sharp songwriting, which is quippy like Kacey Musgraves and relatable like Taylor Swift, documents Zoee's cross-continent move, a handful of heartbreaks, and reflections on femininity. Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Sep. 2025 Outside the States, Starlink has also won the business of a growing flock of airlines, including plans for fleetwide deployments on the multi-continent carriers Air France, SAS, and Qatar Airways. Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for continent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continent
Noun
  • Cast adrift from mainland Italy, the Mediterranean's largest island has been caught in the crosshairs of civilizations for centuries.
    Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Despite medical aid given by tourists who stopped to help, a 16-year-old girl from the mainland and a 38-year-old man from Rosebery both died at the scene.
    Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The good thing is, most plants native to temperate parts of the globe evolved ways to deal with the annual seasonal cycle.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Heating the indoor air in winter means the air will retain more moisture (it won't be dispersed to help humidify plants or your sinuses), but lowering the thermostat to a temperate 68 degrees F can help increase relative humidity in your home, and this can help your houseplants stay vibrant.
    Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Despite his limitations, Joe displayed an impressive degree of ascetic discipline and a ravenous desire for God.
    Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • The fantastical park resembles a theatre set, rife with spiritual allegory and modeled on an ascetic’s dream of utopia.
    Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Some have evolved exceedingly specific diets—diets that would put even the most abstemious human to shame.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The solution offered up by some: the sort of abstemious, low-fat, often vegetarian, diets that had been prescribed as lust-control regimens only decades earlier.
    Rachel Hope Cleves / Made by History, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Some people want to remain abstinent to focus on their own personal growth, while others have resorted to it after becoming frustrated with today's dating culture.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
  • Ivan Neville has been on a few times and always talks being abstinent.
    Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continent. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

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