self-denial

noun

ˌself-di-ˈnī(-ə)l How to pronounce self-denial (audio)
Definition of self-denialnext
1
as in refusal
the act or practice of giving up or rejecting something once enjoyed or desired dieting is an endless exercise in self-denial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in temperance
voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites self-indulgent even when she was poor, she wasn't about to practice self-denial after getting rich

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 self-denial Crace transports readers two thousand years into the past to a stark Biblical landscape full of visceral encounters, violence, self-denial, and possible miracles. — Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 7 July 2025 But the biblical term for self-denial – inui – has another meaning. — Rabbi Avi Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2024 Loneliness gets to the heart of the spiritual dissatisfaction and self-denial seen post-Covid and in both the pro-Hamas and pro–George Floyd rioting. — Armond White, National Review, 10 May 2024 When the connection between them intensifies, Daniel becomes unsatisfied with clandestine hookups, wanting more, while Jack’s self-denial and wariness of potential exposure are tough habits to kick. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for self-denial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-denial
  1. refusal
  2. temperance
  3. denial
  4. renunciation
  5. abnegation
Noun
  • The government said the designation stemmed from Anthropic’s refusal to accept contractual terms, not its views on AI safety.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Haakon’s refusal to go along with German demands garnered respect among his people.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of refusal
Noun
  • Why Gen Z is embracing sober curious drinking Three forces are pulling Gen Z toward more selective drinking, and none of them look like old-school temperance.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The temperance movement was in full swing then, and the aversion to alcohol was especially strong in the rural South.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of temperance
Noun
  • Improve home-health billing, claims submission, denial management, legacy accounts receivable, revenue-cycle dashboards, and financial sustainability.
    — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The denial-of-service attacks meant that hackers pushed massive traffic toward the agency in order to block services, including one that enables citizens to use one login across multiple public services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of denial
Noun
  • This renunciation has had little impact on their progeny, who already studied them for years and viewed their content as a portrait of a viable future.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 11 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 renunciation
Noun
  • Not one for false abnegation of words distorted by smears, Rushdie doubles down on his right to freedom of expression, defending his dissent from religious orthodoxy.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 25 Jan. 2026
  • That, for me, feels like an abnegation of our responsibility in theater.
    — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of abnegation

Browse Nearby Words

self-critical
self-denial
self-denials
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on self-denial

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about self-denial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All