ascetic

4 synonyms and 4 antonyms for ascetic, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Practicing strict self-discipline and avoiding physical comforts or pleasures, often for spiritual reasons.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

spartan

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

abstainer ascetical austere

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Practicing strict self-discipline and avoiding physical comforts or pleasures, often for spiritual reasons.

“The monks lived an ascetic life of fasting and silence.”

abstainer ascetical spartan austere

Opposites

sensual hedonistic voluptuous luxurious

2. noun

A person who deliberately lives simply and denies themselves comfort or pleasure, typically for religious or philosophical reasons.

“The old hermit was known locally as an ascetic who owned almost nothing.”

abstainer

How to use ascetic

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

ascetic lifestyle ascetic monk ascetic discipline

Etymology

From Greek askētikos, "given to exercise or training," from askein ("to exercise, train") — originally describing the rigorous training of an athlete before it came to mean spiritual self-discipline.

Full origin of ascetic →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ascetic” mean?

The word “ascetic” means practicing strict self-discipline and avoiding physical comforts or pleasures, often for spiritual reasons. In plain terms, someone (or something) marked by deliberate self-denial — few possessions, few comforts, strict discipline.

How do you pronounce “ascetic”?

“Ascetic” is pronounced uh-SEH-tihk (/əˈsɛ.tɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “ascetic” in a sentence?

Here is “ascetic” used in a sentence: “The monks lived an ascetic life of fasting and silence.”

What part of speech is “ascetic”?

Depending on how it is used, “ascetic” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “ascetic” come from?

The word “ascetic” comes from Greek. From Greek askētikos, "given to exercise or training," from askein ("to exercise, train") — originally describing the rigorous training of an athlete before it came to mean spiritual self-discipline.

How many meanings does “ascetic” have?

“Ascetic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: practicing strict self-discipline and avoiding physical comforts or pleasures, often for spiritual reasons.

People also searched

luxurious spartan sensual hedonistic voluptuous austere abstainer

Nearby words

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