TEMPERANCE Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

temperance

noun

ˈtem-p(ə-)rən(t)s

Definition of temperance

as in temperateness

an avoidance of extremes in one's actions, beliefs, or habits my father attributes his ripe old age to temperance in all things, especially eating and drinking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abstinence

voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites practices a blue-blooded temperance that his parvenu neighbors will never understand

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 temperance The temperance movement was in full swing then, and the aversion to alcohol was especially strong in the rural South. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026 If decisiveness has crowded out temperance, spend ninety days deliberately slowing your first response. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The temperance, abolition, and civil-rights movements in America were all motivated in part by religious convictions. — Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026 These are ideal rulers who exhibit all of the great virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, temperance and moderation. — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 22 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for temperance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for temperance

Noun

Kick, a platform known for taking a hands-off approach to content moderation, confirmed that such a livestream would violate its policies.

— Emma Roth, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
Hinton, known as the godfather of AI, is portrayed as a saintly figure who espouses a model of growth based on truth, patience, and moderation, much to the frustration of his pupil.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of moderation

Noun

People whose lives spiral when social media enters the picture might need to abstain, although doctors are finding that for behavioral addictions abstinence might not be feasible (screens are everywhere).

— Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Of the men who were part of the original study's AAS-using cohort, 35 were still taking the drugs, while the remaining participants were in varying stages of quitting, long-term abstinence and relapse.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of abstinence

Noun

Today, a fourth discipline has quietly become just as important.

— Tom Wicky, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
But Roger remembers the particular discipline of working on low-budget film productions, when stock and time were precious and rolling the camera was consequential.

— Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of discipline

Noun

For their winning project, the duo, who live and work between Paris and Luxembourg, collected sobriety tokens from members of abstinence groups, which represent the amount of time a person has been sober.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
But doctors and therapists who treat drug and behavioral addictions have been steadily shifting away from sobriety to emphasize gradual progress and a reduction of harm instead.

— Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of sobriety

Noun

Kitchen also had to develop a little more restraint — something that doesn't always come naturally in a sport where riders are constantly pushing the limits of speed and control.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Sullivan faces two counts of first-degree kidnapping and a single count each of first-degree assault, first-degree unlawful restraint and intentional cruelty to persons.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of restraint

Noun

It’s often affected by pressure changes in the abdominal cavity, particularly in pregnant or obese persons, which in turn affect urination and continence.

— Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
After the second session, the authors reported that the woman had even greater speech capabilities, more facial expressions and humor, increased walking agility and continued continence.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

Definition of continence

Noun

Automatic contributions, delayed payment windows, small rituals that add friction to impulse spending — these are all behavioral architecture moves, not acts of self-denial.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
At the beginning of her relationship with John, Carolyn’s central problem was that being part of the Kennedy family demanded some level of self-denial.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

Definition of self-denial

Noun

Strive for self-abnegation, justice, meekness, mercy, purity, love.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Sep. 2026
Her vocation requires the skill of transformation and self-abnegation, as well as a receptiveness to language and emotion not her own.

— Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025

Definition of self-abnegation

Browse Nearby Words

temperaments

temperance

temperas

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“Temperance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temperance. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of temperance

noun

Example Sentences

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