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

Other Word Forms

• ascetically adverb
• nonascetic noun
• nonascetical adjective
• nonascetically adverb
• preascetic adjective
• pseudoascetic adjective
• pseudoascetical adjective
• pseudoascetically adverb
• unascetic adjective
• unascetically 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

While the holy bath is the main draw, the event is also a vibrant carnival of faith, where people from all walks of lives, including ascetics, politicians and celebrities, converge to celebrate.

From BBC

Police struggled to manage the surging crowds at the festival on Tuesday as thousands managed to come into an arena meant for the ascetics.

From BBC

For festival-goers, a major attraction is the presence of naked Naga sadhus, or ascetics, and it is a spectacle to watch as they hurl themselves into the icy waters.

From BBC

It takes 10 steps through the constellations to find the landing place where protection can be lush, where luxury can feel ascetic, where beauty is monastic.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• austere 
• disciplined