Abstemious
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.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when careful spending and use of resources matter
Careful Frugal concerns economy, not restraint in eating or drinking.
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everyday
Fits when avoiding extremes is the plain central idea
Careful Moderate does not imply the notably spare habits of an abstemious person.
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professional
restrained
Fits when controlled consumption should sound neutral
Careful Restrained describes a single choice without establishing a habit.
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formal
sparing
Fits when very little of a resource is deliberately used
Careful Sparing can result from scarcity rather than chosen self-discipline.
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formal
Fits when balanced self-restraint is a broader character quality
Careful Temperate can describe climate or emotion and need not concern consumption.
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literary
ascetic
Fits when self-denial is tied to a disciplined way of life
Careful Ascetic is far stronger and may imply rejection of ordinary comforts.
Opposites 3
- indulgent
- gluttonous
- excessive
Common phrases 3
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abstemious habits
Her abstemious habits made lavish business dinners uncomfortable.
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abstemious lifestyle
He adopted an abstemious lifestyle during the long expedition.
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notably abstemious
The host was notably abstemious despite the abundant feast.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated