continent 1 of 2

Definition of continentnext
as in mainland
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent

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continent

2 of 2

adjective

as in temperate
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships

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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 continent
Noun
But in refusing to allow it in Monaco, Albert joined other European Catholic royals who have taken a similar stand over the years to uphold Catholic doctrine on an increasingly secular continent. Arkansas Online, 29 Mar. 2026 This has caused upset with South Africa, which has been a regular guest representing the African continent at the G7 level. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The 121st World Series will head back cross-continent for at least a Game 6 at the end of the week in Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025 Schneider reflects on Game 5 ‘what-ifs’ A cross-continent flight and 21 hours later, Schneider stepped in front of reporters. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for continent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continent
Noun
  • Four causeways in the cardinal directions connect the mainland to a central plaza, which contains two sacrificial temples.
    Big Think, Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The older consensus assumes Washington would still try to stabilize the situation—escort shipping, surge regional forces, send warnings, hold back from hitting the mainland.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Great white sharks frequently travel north in the summer and south in the winter, a habit experts suspect has to do with preferring more temperate waters.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The answer was right under its nose—the original site of Art Basel, the namesake of the companies’ major cultural piece of IP, which also happens to be within the serene borders of Switzerland but in a more temperate Rhineland climate.
    Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Housed in a bulletproof case, the delicate bones reveal the saint’s ascetic life while strict security protects relics from historical theft.
    Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Later in life Foucault will become more ascetic, but not yet.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Lunchtimes are more abstemious with avocado and tuna packed poke bowls and watermelon salad at the W lounge.
    Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
  • His first term now looks practically abstemious.
    Erin Neil, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Like Ash Wednesday, Good Friday is a day where Catholics are obliged to fast and stay abstinent throughout the day until midnight.
    Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
  • At the end of six months, those who had taken just one dose of psilocybin had more than six times greater odds of being abstinent from cigarettes than their counterparts who relied on the nicotine substitute.
    Will Stone, NPR, 10 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continent. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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