variants
also ascetical
as in monastic
formal
relating to or having a strict and simple way of living that avoids physical pleasure
He committed to having an ascetic existence during his rehab. an ascetic diet of rice and beans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prude
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ascetic
Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 15 Nov. 2024
As a celibate ascetic, Ayyappan should be spared the tempting presence of fertile women—that is, women between menarche and menopause.
—Deepa Das Acevedo, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2019
The tale of Alexander the Great and the ascetic Diogenes illustrates my point.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2024
His personal life also provides plenty of fodder for the curious: Mondrian had a series of liaisons with women, and probably men as well, but lived alone in an ascetic studio.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Adjective
Growing vegetables and seemingly delighted with the ascetic life, Orwell based himself in a bedroom of Barnhill to consider his life’s purpose and to write the most powerful and disturbing novel of the twentieth century, 1984.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 15 Nov. 2024
As a celibate ascetic, Ayyappan should be spared the tempting presence of fertile women—that is, women between menarche and menopause.
—Deepa Das Acevedo, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2019
The tale of Alexander the Great and the ascetic Diogenes illustrates my point.
—Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 1 Dec. 2024
His personal life also provides plenty of fodder for the curious: Mondrian had a series of liaisons with women, and probably men as well, but lived alone in an ascetic studio.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ascetic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ascetic
Adjective
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Generosity and Buddhist laity Without donations, Buddhist temples and monastic institutions could not exist.—
Brooke Schedneck,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2025
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With padded walls that resemble the inside out of a Loro Piana jacket, the space exhibits eight avant-garde pieces in natural hues that combine monastic refinement, theatrical play on volumes, and intricate handicrafts.—
Denni Hu,
WWD,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Give the Original ‘Twister’ a Spin Barbara Peeters is no prude.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
19 July 2024
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Despite a handful of prudes trying their best to spoil the fun.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
4 July 2024
Adjective
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The obvious split between a democratic Taiwan and an authoritarian China is an uncontestable reality and is part of the international consensus.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
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Since taking office just a few weeks ago, President Trump has rapidly depleted the reservoir of America’s soft power with an authoritarian bent and astonishing speed.—
Penny Abeywardena,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There’s often some kind of hitch, but still, most agents are straight arrows who play by the book.—
LEW SICHELMAN,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2025
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Purdy was such a straight arrow as a kid, his worst transgressions were playing doorbell ditch, Patchett said.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
The Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2024
Adjective
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All told, the specifics of memory and storage drive home that the Mac mini is far more suitable to mainstream users, while the Mac Studio is for a more exacting, professional market that needs those expensive, lofty levels of RAM and storage.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Apr. 2025
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For the two musical interludes, Gaga was at her most exacting and confrontational.—
Esther Zuckerman,
The Atlantic,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Karina was, like her mother, an unrelenting optimist.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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For civilians, the unrelenting misery of the last 18 months has just got a lot worse – especially as no aid has entered Gaza for six weeks.—
Tim Lister and Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Paul has been adamant that the tariffs won’t help the U.S. His frustration with the tariffs came as seven GOP senators signed on to a bipartisan bill that sought to have Congressional oversight over the president’s tariffs.—
Lauren Irwin,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
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The 12-time Emmy award-winner was also adamant about sharing her cancer journey with her audience—hoping that her experience might offer support and guidance to others facing similar challenges.—
Joanne Fowler,
People.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Obama has retreated into monkish silence, broken only for special occasions such as celebrity deaths and the recording of Bruce Springsteen podcasts.—
Isaac Chotiner,
The New Yorker,
17 July 2024
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Cillian Murphy is not sitting at home in monkish penury.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ascetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ascetic. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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