Abstemious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ab-ˈstē-mē-əs/ ab·ste·mi·ous

Meaning & Definition of Abstemious

Abstemious (adjective)

  1. marked by restraint especially in the eating of food or drinking of alcohol; also, reflecting such restraint

Abstemious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites

    "being abstemious diners, they avoid restaurants with all-you-can-eat buffets"

    similar: abstentious, abstinent, continent, self-abnegating, self-denying, sober, temperate
    related: ascetic, austere, disciplined, self-controlled, self-disciplined, self-governed
    opposite: self-indulgent
    near: gluttonous, greedy, rapacious, voracious, Cyrenaic, hedonistic, self-pleasing, sensual, sybaritic, voluptuous, voluptuary, masturbatory, onanistic

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Abstemious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Abstemious:

abstentious, abstinent, continent, self-abnegating, self-denying, sober, temperate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Abstemious

Words with the opposite meaning of Abstemious:

self-indulgent

Related Words for Abstemious

ascetic, austere, disciplined, self-controlled, self-disciplined, self-governed

Near Antonyms of Abstemious

gluttonous, greedy, rapacious, voracious, Cyrenaic, hedonistic, self-pleasing, sensual, sybaritic, voluptuous, voluptuary, masturbatory, onanistic

Word Forms of Abstemious

Derived words: abstemiously (adverb), abstemiousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Abstemious

borrowed from Latin abstēmius "refraining from wine, careful with one's means," from abs- (variant of ab- ab- before c- and t-) + -tēmius, from a base tēm- "intoxicating" (also in tēmētum "intoxicating beverage," tēmulentus "drunken"); if going back to an Indo-European root *temH-, akin to Sanskrit tāmyati "(he/she) is stunned, loses consciousness, is exhausted," tamayati "(he/she) chokes (someone)," Armenian tʿmrim "(he/she) is stunned" (perhaps going back to *tēmiro-)

First known use: 1609

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Abstemious

Frequently Asked Questions about Abstemious

What does "Abstemious" mean?

"Abstemious" means marked by restraint especially in the eating of food or drinking of alcohol; also, reflecting such restraint. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by restraint especially in the eating of food or drinking of alcohol; also, reflecting such restraint.

What is another word for "Abstemious"?

Other words for "Abstemious" include abstentious, abstinent, continent, self-abnegating, self-denying, sober and temperate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abstemious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Abstemious"?

There are 13 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abstemious". Common alternatives include abstentious, abstinent, continent, self-abnegating, self-denying, sober and temperate.

What is the opposite of "Abstemious"?

Antonyms of "Abstemious" include self-indulgent. Near antonyms include gluttonous, greedy, rapacious and voracious.

How do you use "Abstemious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Abstemious" in a sentence: "being abstemious diners, they avoid restaurants with all-you-can-eat buffets".

Is "Abstemious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Abstemious" is an adjective.

Is "Abstemious" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Abstemious" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Abstemious"?

"Abstemious" is pronounced /ab-ˈstē-mē-əs/ and divided into syllables as ab·ste·mi·ous.