Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for abstinence

abstinence

[ ab-stuh-nuhns ]

noun

  1. forbearance, especially habitual forbearance as a lifestyle choice, from any indulgence of a particular appetite, such as from sex or from the use of alcoholic beverages:

    The program promotes sexual abstinence for teens, but also provides information on contraception in case they become sexually active.

    Synonyms: abstemiousness, teetotalism, sobriety

  2. any self-restraint, self-denial, or forbearance.
  3. the act of abstaining for any length of time from a substance or activity to which one has become addicted, but without actually dealing with the root causes of dependency: sobriety ( def 3 ).

    Abstinence addresses the symptoms of addiction, while sobriety has deeper mental and emotional dimensions.

  4. the act of abstaining from a particular substance or activity as a spiritual discipline, as during Lent or some other period of religious fasting or self-denial:

    At one time Lenten abstinence from meat was stricter than it is today.

  5. Economics. the conserving of current income in order to build up capital or savings.


abstinence

/ ˈæbstɪnəns /

noun

  1. the act or practice of refraining from some action or from the use of something, esp alcohol
  2. RC Church the practice of refraining from specific kinds of food or drink, esp from meat, as an act of penance
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈabstinent, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

  • ab·sti·nent adjective
  • pro·ab·sti·nence adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of abstinence1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English word from Latin word abstinentia. See abstain, -ence
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of abstinence1

C13: via Old French from Latin abstinentia, from abstinēre to abstain
Discover More

Example Sentences

In the 12-step world, members who have maintained continuous abstinence for many years are revered—the longer their time away from alcohol and other drugs, the higher their status tends to be.

From Time

Promoting abstinence won’t work because many young people who plan to abstain don’t actually do so.

From Time

In fact, the only scientifically proven method to avoid a hangover is moderate alcohol consumption or good old abstinence.

Although the book contains some decidedly pre-coronavirus guidance — think advice on parties and bars — it’s at its strongest when talking about the inside game of abstinence.

Public health experts often advocate a harm reduction approach for behaviors where abstinence is not feasible – it’s a way to minimize but not eliminate risk.

We see detoxing as a path to transcendence, a symbol of modern urban virtue and self-transformation through abstinence.

Worse, some schools preach abstinence only or offer little to no sexual education.

Dr. Melson says abstinence only training shows no delay in sexual activity.

Meanwhile, the majority of states require sex educators to stress abstinence.

Also known as The Abstinence-Violation Effect, some individuals can feel an overall loss of control after going off the deep-end.

“Abstinence has its drawbacks,” he said, shivering in the bitter wind which whirled the stinging smoke about them.

I—perhaps— His hand closed over her fingers with the nervous tension that these last days of abstinence had brought him.

Cooked in the ashes, it makes a palatable but tough cake, which we enjoyed after our long abstinence from bread.

It is abstinence from evil quite as much as eager realization of good.

Convalescence from a severe sickness is a just cause for sexual abstinence.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


abstersiveabstinence syndrome