Synonym Chooser

How is the word chaste distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of chaste are decent, modest, and pure. While all these words mean "free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious," chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

they maintained chaste relations

How are the words modest and decent related as synonyms of chaste?

Both modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies

How do pure and chaste relate to one another?

Pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

the pure of heart

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chaste Nana’s Hui-yeon adds another layer of complexity to the narrative as a widow who has vowed to remain chaste but begins to question her feelings after encountering Cho Won. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025 Nana, whose Korean name is Im Jina, plays the role of Hui-yeon, a widow who vows to remain chaste after losing her husband. Sara Merican, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025 Considering that the romance is so drastically different, and for good reason, having Snow White come to life via a chaste kiss feels almost too old-fashioned. Josh Spiegel, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2025 Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast. E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chaste
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaste
Adjective
  • Booker seems like the top pure guard in this year's draft class, making his overall positional value lower.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Kiper calls him the best pure guard in the draft, a road-grader in the run game.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet beneath the pristine public persona were demons that would drive him to alcoholism, scandal, and death from an overdose in 2012.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2025
  • With all the uncertainty surrounding the sale of the team and many fans wanting new ownership, and both the club and its fan base looking to shed the bad taste of last year’s collapse, the Twins are hoping for a pristine start to 2025.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the vulnerability of the first line of their press, the team’s ability to drop and press backwards is immaculate.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The balance between vulnerability and the role of the DJ – bringing immaculate tunes and vibes – is a unique demand.
    Thomas Smith, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Think about it: the record companies forced them to be clean cut and preppy and all those things.
    Gary Gerard Hamilton, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Feb. 2023
  • Flathead is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, with clean, crystalline waters cradled in the Flathead Valley by the Mission Mountains to the east and the Salish Mountains to the west.
    Deb Hopewell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • That adds up to more than a modest, marginal performance boost.
    John Kannapell, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • How modest, after all, safety’s promises, the ground beneath us not giving out, not even that.
    Maya C. Popa, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The crux of the change for Tarantino is that the experience of theater is still unsullied, whereas with movies, people are on their phones and the theatrical window is teeny tiny.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Back in 2018, when Lasseter left the company, Docter moved up to Chief Creative Officer, as the Disney division tried to continue its unsullied record of major hits.
    Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Chaste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaste. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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