abstinent

adjective

Definition of abstinentnext
as in ascetic
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites grew up in a family where abstinent behavior was expected and self-indulgence of any kind was scorned and castigated

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 abstinent The body of research on non-abstinent recovery has been growing as well. — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026 Not everybody needs to spend the rest of their life totally abstinent with a cup of shitty coffee in a Styrofoam cup regurgitating platitudes. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 One of the sacrifices Dolan mentioned in his speech was staying abstinent. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026 Like Ash Wednesday, Good Friday is a day where Catholics are obliged to fast and stay abstinent throughout the day until midnight. — Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026 At the end of six months, those who had taken just one dose of psilocybin had more than six times greater odds of being abstinent from cigarettes than their counterparts who relied on the nicotine substitute. — Will Stone, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026 Some people want to remain abstinent to focus on their own personal growth, while others have resorted to it after becoming frustrated with today's dating culture. — Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025 Ivan Neville has been on a few times and always talks being abstinent. — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 As a purist, Murray defines sobriety as being completely abstinent from habit-forming substances that could cause dependency, including prescription drugs like Xanax and Suboxone. — Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abstinent
  1. ascetic
  2. abstemious
  3. temperate
  4. sober
Adjective
  • But there is a certain ascetic simplicity to this labyrinthine heritage building that remains relatively unadorned.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of ascetic
Adjective
  • How demographics and diversification shape Suntory’s strategy Investors have grown concerned that young consumers are more abstemious than their parents were at the same age.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of abstemious
Adjective
  • The scientists spotted the fungus during fieldwork in the temperate coniferous forests near Damaidi and Yipinglang and in a tropical rainforest near Nanbang in southern China.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Unsurprisingly, the wine lists are impeccable across the property, from Santé Restaurant to 38º North Wine Bar, which takes its name from the temperate latitude that cuts through some of the world’s finest wine regions.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of temperate
Adjective
  • On his first new music since getting sober, the prolific 30-year-old singer-songwriter offers a sense of adult clarity—and some welcome self-editing.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Meg has been sober from her social media bottom lines for just over five years now.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of sober

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abstinence
abstinent
abstract
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Cite this Entry

“Abstinent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abstinent. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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