1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

monastic 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of monasticnext
1
as in ascetic

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in conventual

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

monastic

2 of 2

noun

as in monk

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 monastic
Adjective
The monastic Wiesler eventually comes to believe Dreyman is harmless and in the process doubts the very foundations of autocracy itself. — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 July 2026 Practice frequently occurs within a monastic or lay community. — Ronald S. Green, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Noun
The Bible’s message was seen as not only informative but salvific, and the monastic who memorized its words filled his or her soul with divine wisdom. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Historical questions remain, however, regarding whether such practices were primarily reserved for monastics or widely practiced among laypeople. — Daniel M. Stuart, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monastic
  1. ascetic
  2. conventual
  3. monk
  4. monkish
  5. mendicant
  6. friar
  7. authoritarian
  8. religious
Adjective
  • And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of ascetic
Adjective
  • Martin entered the Conventual Franciscan Friars Novitiate in Ellicott City at age 17 after graduating from Curley.
    — Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2024
  • But degraded conventual forces could drive Putin to other means of exerting force.
    — Matt Seyler, ABC News, 10 May 2022
Definition of conventual
Noun
  • This might make sense for a Buddhist monk pursuing the great unbinding, but not for a random Brooklynite who just wants to be more productive at work.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Part of it is the identical outfits, a look that mixes Olsen twins with sister wives and a dash of Franciscan monk.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of monk
Adjective
  • Often made by anonymous rappers and producers with a monkish dedication to their craft, this isn’t rap for the live show but for the headphones, music where every muttered word and barely-there snare matters.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026
  • Designed with the neighboring 12th-century Abbaye de Sénaque in mind, the monkish minimalism—polished dark wood, long, bone-white corridors—add to the unique quality of this attractive space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Definition of monkish
Adjective
  • One was that literary journalism anthology the mendicant had flipped through.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
  • The first mendicant orders, like the Franciscans and Dominicans, received papal approval in the early 13th century.
    — Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
Definition of mendicant
Noun
  • The tour guide, a man dressed up as a friar, walks over to the small memorial site.
    — Sonjirose Chin, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The film, which is playing Out of Competition on the Lido, charts the brutality of Spanish friar Padre Enciso over the population in the 17th century.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of friar
Adjective
  • Dejan Pavlovic, from Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences, drew a comparison with an election this year in Hungary that swept from power another authoritarian, Viktor Orbán.
    — Ivana Bzganovic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, authoritarian regimes are on the rise across the planet, including in the United States.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • Netanyahu’s government, the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history, has presided over a surge of settlement construction in the West Bank.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Netanyahu’s government is the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history.
    — Ibrahim Hazboun, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of religious

Browse Nearby Words

monastery
monastic
monasticism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monastic. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of facsimile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All