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Glite Dictionary
🚫 Avoiding pleasures 🥤 A non-drinker
abstinent

abstinent

8.0
A person who does not drink alcohol
  • noun
  • /ˈæbstɪnənt/
translation icon : abstemio
  • The group was made up of abstinent people who were dedicated to living a healthier lifestyle.

Examples

  • And believe it or not, there's a lot more abstinent men than women think.

  • And believe it or not, there's a lot more abstinent men than women think.

  • Goals such as remaining abstinent might be impossible for some people with a history of entrenched homelessness.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Over the long term, the likelihood of mortality decreased with additional substance abuse treatment episodes (OR=0.68), more time abstinent (OR=0.74), and more years of continuous abstinence (OR=0.81).

    Academic text (2011)

  • As an abstinent, John chose not to drink at the party to support his recovery.

  • Many abstinent individuals find it helpful to connect with others who share their commitment to sobriety.

Synonyms

teetotaler
vsabstinent
  • US
5 7.5

A person who never drinks alcohol

covers refraining in general rather than a strict lifelong never drinking rule
abstainer
vsabstinent
1 5.4

A person who does not drink alcohol

is the general idea of refraining without stressing personal choice
nondrinker
vsabstinent
1 4.8

A person who does not drink alcohol

is the same concept but used in slightly more formal descriptions
nonalcohol
vsabstinent
5.8

A person who does not drink alcohol

is the neutral label used for the same idea
teetotalist
vsabstinent
7.6

A person who does not drink any alcohol

is about refraining but does not insist on complete or lifelong avoidance

Antonyms

drinker
83 1.8

A person who often drinks alcohol

How Abstinent

abstinent
8.0
nondrinker
1 4.8

Surface Forms

abstinent singular
abstinents plural

Etymology

The word abstinent as a noun comes from the Latin parts ab- 'away from' and tenere 'to hold' and is related to retain 'to keep', so it means 'one who holds away'. Think of someone at a party who chooses water while others drink; that is why an abstinent is a person who chooses not to drink alcohol.