Definition of purenext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word pure distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of pure are chaste, decent, and modest. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

In what contexts can chaste take the place of pure?

Although the words chaste and pure have much in common, 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 pure?

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

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 pure Sinot used a palette of pure white, vibrant magenta, and dandelion yellow, with the white color concentrated in the inner corners and dotted with teeny pink spots that faded into bright pink at the outer corners. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 Aug. 2026 Some of that increase reflects the Central Bank’s own push to link accounts to verified identity numbers, which forced a wave of closures and reclassifications rather than pure customer disengagement. Aishah N. Ahmad, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Deutsche research suggested that a pure semiconductor portfolio had outperformed a 50-50 software and semiconductor portfolio this year, but produced a weaker return once volatility was taken into account. Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 The replacement of old, negative patterns of thinking with pure thoughts from God, Love, requires alertness. Linda Berckmann, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pure
Adjective
  • For instance, a plain English muffin typically contains about 120 to 150 calories, while a standard plain bagel often has 250 to 350 calories.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The fiber slows digestion, which can blunt the blood sugar spike that plain lemonade would normally cause.
    Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Justine loves vintage, so the Mortons always look amazing, in clothing passed from generation to generation and kept in immaculate repair.
    Scott Westerfeld, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • This finish is an example of his two-footedness, enabling him to play across the forward line, and the immaculate timing of his runs.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • Petticrew broke out stateside by playing IRA activist Dolours Price, a woman whose understandable aggrievement led her to harm innocent civilians as well as herself.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026
  • Killing children and other innocent Palestinians, then stealing land under a false prophecy is not defending Israel.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Adjective
  • Cyrus’ flawless-looking skin was in part thanks to the Maybelline New York Lifter Plump and Glow Foundation, a sheer base that can be built up for more coverage.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • For her main ensemble, the Catwoman star wore head-to-toe black, including a strappy triangle bikini layered beneath a semi-sheer coverup that doubled as a minidress.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Many who watched that win with unadulterated joy on NBC that Sunday suddenly felt like they may be getting used during the network broadcast of the SOTU on Tuesday.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • All of these solutions are unevenly distributed, and the effects of unadulterated heat are concentrated on the country’s poor.
    Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Then there was the rather chaste kiss on Evans’s show late last year.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 June 2026
  • Deadhead your chaste tree in late winter to promote flowering in the spring and summer months.
    Steve Bender, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • The hotel's dedicated beach setup just across the street, with two chairs, a yellow-and-white striped umbrella, and towels included, making days on the shoreline feel effortless.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
  • Garvey said the journal, which published quarterly from 1993 to 2005, was premised on the idea of abolishing whiteness as a social category that situates white people above other racial groups.
    Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • My love is unconditional and nothing will separate me from your cheesy beefy burrito and avocado chicken stacker.
    Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
  • Each fellow will also retain the unconditional right to publish in any journal, even if the findings are critical of Polymarket.
    Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 29 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pure. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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