Synonym Chooser

How is the word chaste distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of chaste are decent, modest, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How are the words modest and decent related as synonyms of chaste?

Both modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

How do pure and chaste relate to one another?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

Examples 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 chaste Joan gives Keith the valuable First Impression rose and the first (chaste) kiss on the lips. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 19 Sep. 2024 It’s mostly suited for tween viewers, with tame language, limited onscreen violence and no onscreen sexuality — Pippa’s chaste flirtations with Ravi are kept vague enough to prevent questions of age-appropriateness. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 July 2024 Yet their relationship, chaste and proper according to Muslim values, never develops; the reader never even learns the woman’s name. Adam Sella, New York Times, 26 May 2024 Yet, more than three-quarters of women and girls in the country have been subjected to it, according to the United Nations, because of religious beliefs that the partial or total removal of these body parts ensures that women remain chaste. Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 23 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for chaste 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaste
Adjective
  • BrewDog This two-level rooftop spot is a pure sports bar that is right on the Strip but not in a hotel.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Of course, Snoop has jammed with everyone from Willie Nelson to the Gorillaz to the late Quincy Jones, but he’s never sounded so pure and contemplative.
    Will Dukes, Rolling Stone, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa is situated on the pristine shores of West Bay Beach in Roatán, Honduras.
    Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
  • For water enthusiasts, Dominica recently unveiled a groundbreaking 32-nautical-mile kayak trail encircling the island—a six-day journey through pristine waters.
    Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Niki starts out in the ’50s with the artist wearing an immaculate white dress and a glistening tiara, striking delicate poses for a photographer that orders her around.
    Sarah Belmont, ARTnews.com, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The vibes are immaculate with sunken in outdoor booths overlooking Magic Kingdom and cozy heat lamps.
    Carly Caramanna, Parents, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The clean, bright walls along with colorful rugs and hardwood floors can seem impossible for people living in apartments.
    Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2023
  • Instead, use a clean Q-tip to gently wipe away any excess spray.
    Leah Campano, Seventeen, 3 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Kittle noted that Samuel’s modest stat line against Chicago wasn’t due to a lack of effort but because of scheme.
    Matt Barrows, The Athletic, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Macquarie's latest estimates are for demand to slow from an earlier forecast of 3.4% a year to 2.4% while supply is also expected to slip, though the supply fall from 5.4% to 4% will still leave the copper market in modest surplus.
    Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Though this was at a time when homosexuality was still widely frowned upon, the pair managed to break through on pure, unsullied vision.
    Michael Cuby, Them, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Wolves and bears still roam the silent valleys of the Principality’s unsullied interior, and a new kind of wildlife tourism has sprung up to cater for visitors keen to peer at them through telescopes.
    Paul Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near chaste

Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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