abstinent

/'æbstinənt/

Thân thiện

An abstinent person politely declines a glass of wine at a dinner party.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Self-restraining; not indulging an appetite, especially for food or drink: Describes a person who voluntarily refrains from indulging in certain appetites or pleasures, most commonly from consuming alcohol or other substances.
   • Characterized by abstinence: Pertaining to the practice of abstaining.

2. Noun:

   • A person who refrains from drinking intoxicating beverages: An individual who chooses not to consume alcoholic drinks.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • After his health scare, he led an abstinent lifestyle, avoiding all alcohol and rich foods.
  • The monk's abstinent practices were part of his spiritual discipline.

• Noun:

  • At the party, she was the only abstinent, politely declining the offered wine.
  • The support group was helpful for abstinents who were committed to sobriety.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical/Formal Context: Used in medical or psychological contexts to describe a state of non-indulgence, often as part of a treatment plan.

  • The treatment program requires patients to remain abstinent from all non-prescribed drugs.

• Religious/Philosophical Context: Often describes a principled choice for spiritual or ethical reasons.

  • Many religious traditions encourage an abstinent period during specific holy days.

Variants and Related Words

• Abstinence (n): The practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something.

  • His abstinence from social media improved his focus.

• Abstemious (adj): Sparing or moderate, especially in eating and drinking. (Note: This is similar but implies moderation rather than complete avoidance).

  • She was abstemious, having only a small portion of dessert.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Teetotal, sober, temperate, ascetic, self-denying.
• Noun: Teetotaler, nondrinker, sober person.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Indulgent, intemperate, hedonistic.
• Noun: Drinker, indulger.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• To practice abstinence: To actively choose to refrain from something.

  • They practiced abstinence until marriage.

• Abstinent from: Used to specify the thing being avoided.

  • He has been abstinent from gambling for five years.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. self-restraining; not indulging an appetite especially for food or drink
   • not totally abstinent but abstemious

Noun

1. a person who refrains from drinking intoxicating beverages

Từ đồng nghĩa

• abstentious
• abstainer
• nondrinker