monastic 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of monasticnext
1
as in ascetic

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2
as in conventual

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monastic

2 of 2

noun

as in monk

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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 monastic
Adjective
Not all retreats are monastic, and seclusion can easily nourish a hothouse of gossip. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 The monastic Wiesler eventually comes to believe Dreyman is harmless and in the process doubts the very foundations of autocracy itself. — David Faris, TheWeek, 27 July 2026
Noun
The Bible’s message was seen as not only informative but salvific, and the monastic who memorized its words filled his or her soul with divine wisdom. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 Historical questions remain, however, regarding whether such practices were primarily reserved for monastics or widely practiced among laypeople. — Daniel M. Stuart, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monastic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monastic
  1. ascetic
  2. conventual
  3. monk
  4. monkish
  5. mendicant
  6. friar
  7. authoritarian
  8. religious
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
  • Martin entered the Conventual Franciscan Friars Novitiate in Ellicott City at age 17 after graduating from Curley.
    — Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2024
  • But degraded conventual forces could drive Putin to other means of exerting force.
    — Matt Seyler, ABC News, 10 May 2022
Definition of conventual
Noun
  • Meanwhile, one monk intones that more offerings will bring the family greater blessing and peace.
    — Lé Baltar, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • What draws Béatrice’s attention is a fantastical claim made by a Benedictine monk in an Italian magazine article from the 1970s.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of monk
Adjective
  • Often made by anonymous rappers and producers with a monkish dedication to their craft, this isn’t rap for the live show but for the headphones, music where every muttered word and barely-there snare matters.
    — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026
  • Designed with the neighboring 12th-century Abbaye de Sénaque in mind, the monkish minimalism—polished dark wood, long, bone-white corridors—add to the unique quality of this attractive space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
Definition of monkish
Adjective
  • One was that literary journalism anthology the mendicant had flipped through.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
  • The first mendicant orders, like the Franciscans and Dominicans, received papal approval in the early 13th century.
    — Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
Definition of mendicant
Noun
  • The hotel works with a local Franciscan friar from Ravello, Friar Marcus, to introduce interested guests to the chapel, or whisk them on tours of Ravello, his local parish (and the home of Villas Cimbrone and Rufolo).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The analysis was specifically requested by the viceroy of New Spain as a test of the friar’s scientific expertise.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of friar
Adjective
  • El Sistema was founded decades before Hugo Chavez came to power in a populist revolution that quickly turned authoritarian.
    — Max Feliu, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • What readers are saying The comments express overwhelming disapproval and outrage over the idea of live-streaming a public execution, likening it to barbaric practices of authoritarian regimes and terrorist groups.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of authoritarian
Adjective
  • Its accompanying music video, directed by longtime U2 collaborator Anton Corbijn, was filmed in the California desert and satirizes the band as a religious cult in which women do the heavy lifting.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week Hasan’s execution would be livestreamed, eliciting pushback from Democrats, Republicans and religious advocates about the idea.
    — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of religious

Browse Nearby Words

monastery
monastic
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Cite this Entry

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

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