Abstemious
adj.thoughtful, resilientformal
What it means
Habitually moderate in food, drink, or other consumption.
Reach for it when praising deliberate restraint where appetite could become excessive
The abstemious traveler packed lightly and declined every unnecessary luxury.
Choose between these
6- everyday
careful spending and use of resources matter
not when Frugal concerns economy, not restraint in eating or drinking.
- everyday
avoiding extremes is the plain central idea
not when Moderate does not imply the notably spare habits of an abstemious person.
- professional
restrained
controlled consumption should sound neutral
not when Restrained describes a single choice without establishing a habit.
- formal
sparing
very little of a resource is deliberately used
not when Sparing can result from scarcity rather than chosen self-discipline.
- formal
balanced self-restraint is a broader character quality
not when Temperate can describe climate or emotion and need not concern consumption.
- literary
ascetic
self-denial is tied to a disciplined way of life
not when Ascetic is far stronger and may imply rejection of ordinary comforts.
Said against
3- indulgent
- gluttonous
- excessive
It naturally appears in
3- abstemious habits
Her abstemious habits made lavish business dinners uncomfortable.
- abstemious lifestyle
He adopted an abstemious lifestyle during the long expedition.
- notably abstemious
The host was notably abstemious despite the abundant feast.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: moderate or sparing in consumption opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.