as in ascetic
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites
obviously not for the self-abnegating vacationer, this luxury resort is for those whose budgets and appetites know no limit
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Recent Examples of self-abnegating
Mothers are often criticized or belittled for acting selflessly; it’s seen as weak and self-abnegating.
—
Danielle Crittenden, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2026
One of the West’s most glaring vulnerabilities to the influence of Russia—and China and Iran—is Hungary’s self-abnegating obeisance to those countries.
—Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
The president was characteristically decent and self-abnegating in his remarks.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Danielle Crittenden, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2026
One of the West’s most glaring vulnerabilities to the influence of Russia—and China and Iran—is Hungary’s self-abnegating obeisance to those countries.
—Mitch McConnell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
The president was characteristically decent and self-abnegating in his remarks.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 25 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-abnegating
Adjective
-
Once inside, warm, tropical breezes flow into the hotel’s ascetic, nevertheless grand lobby, wafting you towards a magical cloister filled with plants and robust Botero sculptures.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
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Grothendieck was intense and ascetic from his early days.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lunchtimes are more abstemious with avocado and tuna packed poke bowls and watermelon salad at the W lounge.—
Jemima Sissons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
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His first term now looks practically abstemious.—
Erin Neil,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The evolutionary solution, for most temperate insects, is to use the light signal as the primary trigger and treat temperature as a secondary modifier.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Kelp fringes nearly a third of the planet’s coastlines and is an iconic feature of temperate waters, from California and Chile to Norway, Japan, and Australia.—
Tatjana Baleta,
Time,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-abnegating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-abnegating. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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