ascetic

[ uh-set-ik ]

noun

1. a person who dedicates their life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.
2. a person who leads an austerely simple life, especially one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or shuns material satisfaction.
3. (in the early Christian church) a monk; hermit.

   Synonyms: cenobite, recluse, anchorite

adjective

1. relating to asceticism, the doctrine that one can reach a high spiritual state through the practice of extreme self-denial or self-mortification.
2. rigorously abstinent; austere:

   an ascetic existence.

   Synonyms: plain, frugal, strict

   Antonyms: self-indulgent

3. exceedingly strict or severe in religious exercises or self-mortification.

   Synonyms: fanatic

ascetic

/ əˈsɛtɪk /

noun

1. a person who practises great self-denial and austerities and abstains from worldly comforts and pleasures, esp for religious reasons
2. (in the early Christian Church) a monk

adjective

1. rigidly abstinent or abstemious; austere
2. of or relating to ascetics or asceticism
3. intensely rigorous in religious austerities

Derived Forms

• asˈcetically, adverb

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascetic¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Greek askētikós “subject to rigorous exercise, hardworking,” equivalent to askē- ( ascesis ) + -tikos adjective suffix; -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascetic¹

C17: from Greek askētikos, from askētēs, from askein to exercise

Example Sentences

They tend to conjure images of monks meditating in the mountains or ascetics living in desert caves.

From Los Angeles Times

Her jury ended up awarding one: Thomas Vinterberg’s “The Celebration,” the first and, ultimately, best feature to emerge from the ascetic, anti-effects movement.

From Los Angeles Times

Disillusioned by the impermanence of life, Siddhartha engaged in six years of ascetic practice and attained enlightenment at the age of 35 in Bodh Gaya in northeast India.

From Seattle Times

In early Christianity, spiritual warfare meant one was to resist the Devil by engaging in forms of ascetic behavior, mastering fleshly desires, and cultivating Christian virtues like humility, self-control, and love of enemies.

From Salon

To do so, he engaged in a series of rigorous ascetic practices, culminating in self-mummification.

From National Geographic

Related Words

• austere
• disciplined