EN

Synonyms for abstinence

  • noun

Most common

abstention self-control self-denial sobriety

All synonyms

Noun

1. Temperance — the act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite. Specifically, the practice…

temperance formal, abstention, self-control, self-denial, sobriety, continence, self-restraint, moderation, abstemiousness, teetotalism, abstentiousness

Other

fasting, forbearance, refraining, abnegation, abstinency

Antonyms

indulgence, excess, overindulgence

All antonyms of abstinence →

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    The act or practice of abstaining, refraining from indulging a desire or appetite. Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating/alcoholic beverages; total abstinence; teetotalism).

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:abstinence.

Related words

Word family
abstinency abstemious abstinent
Phrases
abstinence ring

Forms

Plural
abstinences → temperances, abstentions, self-controls, self-denials…

Choose the right word

Abstinence, Abstemiousness, Moderation or Self-Denial?

Abstinence from food commonly signifies going without; abstemiousness, partaking moderately; abstinence may be for a single occasion, abstemiousness is habitual moderation. Self-denial is giving up what one wishes; abstinence may be refraining from what one does not desire.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • sobriety Yanni is strongly devoted to his sobriety.
  • abstention There wasn't a single abstention.
  • fasting Fadil started fasting although he wasn't a Muslim.
  • refraining I'm refraining from making any criticism.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
abstinencerising
sobrietyrising
abstentionfalling
fastingrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

7 letters
fasting2
8 letters
sobriety4
10 letters
moderation4, temperance3, abstention3, refraining3, abnegation4, continence, abstinency
11 letters
forbearance3, teetotalism
14 letters
abstemiousness
15 letters
abstentiousness

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (fasting2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
abstinence
Italiano
astinenza
Español
abstinencia
Deutsch
Abstinenz
Català
abstinència