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GRE vocabulary

ascetic

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore A words

practicing severe self-discipline and abstinence

Word origin: From Greek asketes, one who practices, from askein to exercise.

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In a sentence

Ascetic in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing ascetic in a sentence.

He led an ascetic life, owning little and eating sparingly.

The monk's ascetic routine of fasting and silence drew curious visitors from across the region.

Synonyms
austereabstemiousself-denying
Antonyms
indulgentluxurioushedonistic

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Verbal · Text Completion

The novelist's late style is admired precisely for its blank: every superfluous phrase has been pared away, leaving prose of startling economy.

Select the word that best completes the sentence.

Usage & nuance

Using “ascetic” well

Ascetic describes severe self-discipline and the renunciation of comfort, often for spiritual ends. It implies deliberate self-denial, not mere poverty or thrift.

Common questions

Questions about “ascetic”

Ascetic (adjective) means practicing severe self-discipline and abstinence
Here is ascetic used in an example sentence: "He led an ascetic life, owning little and eating sparingly." Another example: "The monk's ascetic routine of fasting and silence drew curious visitors from across the region."
Common synonyms for ascetic include austere, abstemious, self-denying.
Antonyms of ascetic include indulgent, luxurious, hedonistic.
Ascetic clusters with austere, abstemious, and self-denying in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms indulgent, luxurious, and hedonistic mark the life of comfort a passage may contrast against it.
Yes. Ascetic is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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