continent 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
Definition of continentnext
as in mainland
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

continent

2 of 2

adjective

ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
as in temperate
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of continent
Noun
Dolly also opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers from every walk of life, and across every continent. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 The contest was founded in 1956, in part to help unite a shattered continent after World War II. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 European leaders join President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv for Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day, underscoring continent-wide anxiety as Russia’s four-year invasion grinds on with little frontline movement and intensifying aerial attacks. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 The following year, Bell teamed up with Bart Roccoburton, head of UConn’s Puppet Arts Program, to host the National Puppeteers of America Festival, which brought hundreds of puppeteers from 40 states and five continents to Storrs for performances. — Tran Chau, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for continent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continent
  1. mainland
  2. temperate
  3. ascetic
  4. abstemious
  5. abstinent
Noun
  • Investors are also betting on a future DeepSeek listing in the mainland, said Wayne Shiong, managing partner at Argo Venture Partners, as the startup risks an exodus of senior engineers without financial incentives to stay.
    — Anniek Bao,Elaine Yu, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • These days, caretakers occupy the micronation, and the family lives mostly on the mainland.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of mainland
Adjective
  • Since California’s climate is so temperate, Channel Islands National Park operates all year round.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Many temperate and boreal regions that anchor industrial fiber production are warming faster than the global average.
    — Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of temperate
Adjective
  • And there were posters tearing apart his otherworldly self-projection as a fakir, or ascetic, depicting him in his monogrammed suits, designer sunglasses, and aircraft.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Then, over the following years, came sustainability and strict reuse and ascetic renunciation, and today, finally, its photo series and articles advocated for a mild, slightly quirky anticapitalist metaphysics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of ascetic
Adjective
  • Lunchtimes are more abstemious with avocado and tuna packed poke bowls and watermelon salad at the W lounge.
    — Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
  • His first term now looks practically abstemious.
    — Erin Neil, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of abstemious
Adjective
  • Not everybody needs to spend the rest of their life totally abstinent with a cup of shitty coffee in a Styrofoam cup regurgitating platitudes.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • One of the sacrifices Dolan mentioned in his speech was staying abstinent.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
Definition of abstinent

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continence
continent
continental
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Cite this Entry

“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continent. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on continent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about continent

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