continence | Definition of continence

1 abstention from sexual intercourse

argued for a pregnancy-prevention program that did not put so much faith in the continence of teenagers

Synonyms of continence

abstinence, celibacy, chasteness, chastity

Words Related to continence

modesty, purity

honor, innocence, virginity, virtue

Near Antonyms of continence

debauchery, lechery, licentiousness, venery, wenching, whoring

2 the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others

experiencing a moment of unusual continence, I refrained from returning her gratuitous insult

Synonyms of continence

constraint, discipline, discretion, inhibition, refrainment, repression, reserve, restraint, self-command, self-control, self-restraint, suppression

Words Related to continence

command, control, mastery, possession

self-censorship, self-containment, self-denial, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, will, willpower

composure, self-poise, self-possession

aloofness, detachedness, distance

bashfulness, modesty, shyness

reticence, silence, taciturnity

Near Antonyms of continence

self-abandonment, uninhibitedness

unrestrainedness

gratification, indulgence, overindulgence, self-indulgence

bluntness, candor, frankness

immoderacy, intemperance

Antonyms of continence

disinhibition, incontinence, unconstraint

3 the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions

a religious sect that demanded nearly superhuman continence from its adherents

Synonyms of continence

restraint, self-command, self-containment, self-control, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, self-possession, self-restraint, will, willpower

Words Related to continence

self-abnegation, self-denial

moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness

determination, nerve

command, control, discipline, mastery

abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance

abstinence, soberness, sobriety

aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-confidence

discretion

Near Antonyms of continence

gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence

excessiveness, immoderacy, intemperance, intemperateness, overindulgence

demerit, failing, fault, feebleness, foible, frailty, shortcoming, vice, weakness

indiscipline, unconstraint, unreserve, unreservedness, unrestraint

4 voluntary restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites

a gambling mecca that has a reputation for being the sort of place where caution and continence are thrown to the wind

Synonyms of continence

abstinence, self-abnegation, self-denial, sobriety, temperance

Words Related to continence

control, forbearance, restraint

discipline, self-command, self-control, self-discipline, self-mastery

asceticism, austerity

Near Antonyms of continence

gluttony, greed, rapaciousness, rapacity, voraciousness, voracity

hedonism, sensuality, sybaritism

Antonyms of continence

self-indulgence

Synonyms and Antonyms of continence

WORD OF THE DAY

nuance