as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife

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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 celibacy However, history has demonstrated that political celibacy movements rarely stick, according to Aronowitz. Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024 The cast being agog about her celibacy will get old quickly. Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024 Many experimented with fasting, sleep deprivation, and vegetarian diets while frequently taking vows of celibacy. Jeffrey E. Schulman / Made By History, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024 Bumble came under backlash earlier this year for advertising that positioned celibacy as a poor alternative to online dating. Karoline Leonard, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for celibacy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for celibacy
Noun
  • The dial center suggests the purity of mountain waters and shifts to an intense blue.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The first is that it was named for the purity of its water.
    Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The rules include abstaining from substances that are already forbidden by the LDS Church, practicing chastity, forgoing the use of profanity and following a dress code that prohibits men from wearing beards or goatees and requires skirts to be no shorter than knee-length.
    Ashley Hume, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The series eschews any sort of sexuality, with even Nico’s desires getting toned down to the point of total chastity.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for many Catholics and other Christian denominations.
    John Bacon, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The Catholic Church mandates abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent as an act of sacrifice and self-discipline.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Celibacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celibacy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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