adj

ascetic

uh-SEH-tihk

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."

"His ascetic diet ruled out sugar, alcohol, and meat entirely."

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."

How to Use Ascetic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone (or something) marked by deliberate self-denial — few possessions, few comforts, strict discipline.

Common pairings

ascetic lifestyle ascetic monk ascetic discipline

Word Forms

more ascetic comparative, ascetics plural, most ascetic superlative

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The monks lived an _____ life of fasting and silence.

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.

Rhymes for ascetic

poetic genetic heretic kinetic magnetic cosmetic athletic diabetic pathetic copacetic aesthetic apathetic

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