ascetic
a person who dedicates their life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.
a person who leads an austerely simple life, especially one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or shuns material satisfaction.
(in the early Christian church) a monk; hermit.
relating to asceticism, the doctrine that one can reach a high spiritual state through the practice of extreme self-denial or self-mortification.
rigorously abstinent; austere: an ascetic existence.
exceedingly strict or severe in religious exercises or self-mortification.
Origin of ascetic
1Other words for ascetic
Opposites for ascetic
Other words from ascetic
- as·cet·i·cal·ly, adverb
- non·as·cet·ic, noun, adjective
- non·as·cet·i·cal, adjective
- non·as·cet·i·cal·ly, adverb
- pre·as·cet·ic, adjective
- pseu·do·as·cet·ic, adjective
- pseu·do·as·cet·i·cal, adjective
- pseu·do·as·cet·i·cal·ly, adverb
- un·as·cet·ic, adjective
- un·as·cet·i·cal·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with ascetic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ascetic in a sentence
The artist here is as severely ascetical and monastic in spirit as the unknown master of the Triumph of Death.
The Story of Siena and San Gimignano | Edmund G. GardnerThis contact strengthened Father's naturally ascetical temperament.
Autobiography of a YOGI | Paramhansa YoganandaWe received the blessing of the leader of the Giri branch of the Swami Order-a thin, ascetical monk with eyes of smiling fire.
Autobiography of a YOGI | Paramhansa YoganandaHave we indeed outstripped the warrior and passed the ascetical saint?
A Chesterton Calendar | G. K. ChestertonThe Orthodox idea of fasting is first of all that of an ascetical effort.
Great Lent: A School of Repentance | Alexander Schmemann
British Dictionary definitions for ascetic
/ (əˈsɛtɪk) /
a person who practises great self-denial and austerities and abstains from worldly comforts and pleasures, esp for religious reasons
(in the early Christian Church) a monk
rigidly abstinent or abstemious; austere
of or relating to ascetics or asceticism
intensely rigorous in religious austerities
Origin of ascetic
1Derived forms of ascetic
- ascetically, adverb
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
Browse