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Glite Dictionary
🚻 Control of urination 🙏 Self-restraint
continence

continence

1 9.9
A person chooses not to have sex to show self-control
  • noun
  • /ˈkɒntɪnəns/
  • NSFW
translation icon : continencia
  • Many people struggle with continence, especially in the face of peer pressure.
  • strict sexual continence

Examples

  • Continence is a social expectation in our world, and it is essential for the development of self-esteem.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Continence is essential for adolescents to move on to the challenge of living an independent and satisfying adult life.

    Academic text (2004)

  • "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet."

    Blog text (29)

  • Is it important to distinguish between celibacy and continence?

    Blog text (24)

  • In trying to be idly human, they'd become less so; after all, hadn't sexual continence and the awareness of death made humans human?

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Discuss the need to control lust and unruly sexual desires through the acquisition and exercise of continence and chastity; treatises on the capital vice of lechery deal with a whole range of sexual delicts, from the sexual relations of unmarried persons.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Practicing continence can lead to greater self-discipline and personal growth.

  • Religious teachings often emphasize the importance of continence in fostering moral character.

Synonyms

abstinence
vscontinence
  • NSFW
63 6.4

Choosing not to do things like drinking alcohol or having sex

is focused on sexual self-control rather than general avoidance of pleasures
celibacy
vscontinence
46 6.8

Not having sex often for religious or personal reasons

refers to self-restraint as an active behavior rather than a long lasting state
chastity
vscontinence
35 8.1

A state in which a person does not have sex, often for religious or moral reasons

describes self-control as a general personal action not primarily religiously motivated
self-discipline
vscontinence
17 4.4

The ability to control your actions and feelings even when it is hard

refers specifically to restraining sexual impulses rather than general trained control
self-restraint
vscontinence
7 4.6

The ability to control your feelings and urges

applies this control especially to sexual behaviour rather than general impulses
continency
vscontinence
  • NSFW
9.9

Choosing not to have sex or to limit sexual activity

is identical in meaning but appears as a spelling variant in usage
sexual abstention
vscontinence
7.1

Choosing not to have sex for religious, moral, or personal reasons

focuses on restraint as a personal exercise rather than only avoiding acts

Antonyms

indulgence
24 6.0

A small pleasure you allow yourself, often without much self-control

licentiousness
  • NSFW
2 9.9

A lack of moral control over sexual behavior

How Restrained

abstinence
  • NSFW
63 6.4
continence
  • NSFW
1 9.9
moderation
47 3.5
laxity
3 8.3
licentiousness
  • NSFW
2 9.9

Surface Forms

continence singular
continences plural

Morphology

continence = continent (transparent) = continent + ence

Direct nominalization of the adjective 'continent' using the productive suffix '-ence' to denote the quality or practice of being continent.

Etymology

Continence comes from the Latin continere, where tenere means 'to hold' and con- means 'together', similar to the everyday word contain. A helpful image is 'holding back' strong urges, so continence also means self-restraint, especially in sexual activity.