as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse
a widower who has maintained absolute celibacy since the death of his wife
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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
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
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This level of enrichment is just a technical step away from reaching the 90% purity required for nuclear weapons.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
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Bars and coins are often purchased for their purity and weight, while jewelry combines investment with aesthetics.—
Gabriel O Rodríguez,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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The anti-erotic Christianity that Monica professed condemned the vanity of human learning and encouraged chastity.—
Mark Lilla,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Oct. 2024
Noun
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The next day marked the beginning of abstinence from those items or the Lenten season.—
Saleen Martin,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
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The 39-year-old actor has had his fair share of odd jobs, including catering deviled eggs, waffles, and other treats, and teaching abstinence to high schoolers.—
Kalia Richardson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Celibacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celibacy. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
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