self-denial

American  

[self-di-nahy-uhl, self-] / ˈsɛlf dɪˈnaɪ əl, ˌsɛlf- /

noun

1. the sacrifice of one's own desires; unselfishness.

2. an act or instance of restraining or curbing one's desires.

   To reduce, one has to practice self-denial at the dinner table.

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self-denial British  

noun

1. the denial or sacrifice of one's own desires

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Other Word Forms

• self-denying adjective
• self-denyingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of self-denial

First recorded in 1635–45

Example Sentences

So the question facing him was whether another four-year cycle of discipline and self-denial was worth it for the chance to bridge that blink of an eye.

From The Wall Street Journal

Or they might miss out on joyous experiences by living in constant self-denial.

From MarketWatch

Shannon is baffled by her self-denial, but Hannah has attained an understanding of home not as a physical place but as a spiritual bulwark, born out of love and patient respect.

From Los Angeles Times

As Liz Charlotte Grant at the Revealer recently wrote, the book appeals to those "hungry for romance," turning that longing into an argument for self-denial.

From Salon

“That form of self-denial is something I’m just not doing,” he continued in a video on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times