as in pure
free from any trace of the coarse or indecent
a schoolteacher who dresses with almost vestal modesty while on the job
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vestal
These vestal get-ups are, in fact, the latest in a long line of subversive pop culture interpretations of the lives (and loves) of nuns.
—
Leah Dolan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
There were papal cloaks styled as trench coats, and vestal robes turned into coveralls, but with a solemn finish that showed respect for both the clothes and the creative congregation that wants to wear them.
—Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Sep. 2022
Souza sets out to reacquaint us with that vanished world, where norms obtained and men were men and words had meaning—where the sun rose on the shrines of our ancestors and six virgins ceaselessly guarded the vestal flame.
—Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, 3 Aug. 2017
Leah Dolan, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
There were papal cloaks styled as trench coats, and vestal robes turned into coveralls, but with a solemn finish that showed respect for both the clothes and the creative congregation that wants to wear them.
—Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Sep. 2022
Souza sets out to reacquaint us with that vanished world, where norms obtained and men were men and words had meaning—where the sun rose on the shrines of our ancestors and six virgins ceaselessly guarded the vestal flame.
—Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, 3 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestal
Adjective
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But Russell’s performance was a beam of pure light, burning off any condescension.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
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And while the Picoult engages a tougher subject (a school shooting and its fallout), the other three titles in this crop are pure romantasy.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Chihiro and Hiruhiko were engaging in the sort of passionate but chaste dude-bro melodrama that takes place only in shōnen manga.—
Matt Alt,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
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To win the grand prize, 10 contestants must stay as chaste as possible in a house together for four weeks.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Our field was immaculate and our team always looked great; first-class uniforms.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
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Kyle Schwarber's fit with the Philadelphia Phillies is immaculate, but 29 other teams will get the chance to bid on him this winter anyway.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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That's right—a clean, nonpartisan funding bill.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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This change limited the state's ability to secure federal funds for energy efficiency projects, address emissions of climate-warming air pollutants at a statewide level, or promote cleaner technologies that don't rely on fossil fuels.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vestal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestal. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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