VESTAL Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

vestal

adjective

ˈve-stᵊl

Definition of vestal

as in pure

free from any trace of the coarse or indecent a schoolteacher who dresses with almost vestal modesty while on the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 vestal And Olympic-sponsor hierarchy was guarded like vestal virginity. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vestal

Adjective

Swift was born into the Anglo-Irish Protestant elite, and the text satires both the callousness of his class and a then-ascendant approach to morality and politics that held that all aspects of life could be cooked down to a pure numerical value.

— Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
Instead, Bier recognizes the pure joy of seeing these women drinking margaritas again, resulting in a vivid and sweet celebration that gradually reframes aging as a process of gaining power rather than losing it.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of pure

Adjective

His carefully coiffed side parting is as immaculate as his smile, something that distinguishes him from the rest of his party, whose members tend to grimace rather than grin.

— Esme Nicholson, NPR, 6 Sep. 2026
That said, the surfaces are immaculate with Englert, serving as both co-director and cinematographer, moving through the Dostoevskys’ decline with astonishing care.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of immaculate

Adjective

Liu pointed to China’s 2025 Global AI Governance Action Plan, which calls for accelerating construction of clean power, next-generation networks, computing capacity and data centers.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Yet the compounds that give lemon, pine, thyme, and lavender their scents aren’t produced by plants to make nature smell clean.

— Mike McRae September 03, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of clean

Browse Nearby Words

vest

vestal

vested

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vestal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vestal. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of vestal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loath

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

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

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes