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 celibate
Febos finds common ground with both voluntarily and involuntarily celibate individuals.
—
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 5 June 2025
But my celibate year was one of the happiest of my life.
—Sarah Viren
june 4, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
When Pope Francis convened Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican in 2019 to discuss the ordination of married men in remote parts of South America, the meeting raised expectations about the possibility of revolutionizing the celibate priesthood.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
For many traditionalists, effective enforcement of this teaching would mean cracking down on homosexuality among the clergy, including gay clergy who are celibate and chaste.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for celibate
Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 5 June 2025
But my celibate year was one of the happiest of my life.
—Sarah Viren
june 4, Literary Hub, 4 June 2025
When Pope Francis convened Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican in 2019 to discuss the ordination of married men in remote parts of South America, the meeting raised expectations about the possibility of revolutionizing the celibate priesthood.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
For many traditionalists, effective enforcement of this teaching would mean cracking down on homosexuality among the clergy, including gay clergy who are celibate and chaste.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
See All Example Sentences for celibate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for celibate
Adjective
-
Chihiro and Hiruhiko were engaging in the sort of passionate but chaste dude-bro melodrama that takes place only in shōnen manga.—
Matt Alt,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
-
To win the grand prize, 10 contestants must stay as chaste as possible in a house together for four weeks.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ivan Neville has been on a few times and always talks being abstinent.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
As a purist, Murray defines sobriety as being completely abstinent from habit-forming substances that could cause dependency, including prescription drugs like Xanax and Suboxone.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Schneider reflects on Game 5 ‘what-ifs’ A cross-continent flight and 21 hours later, Schneider stepped in front of reporters.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Her razor-sharp songwriting, which is quippy like Kacey Musgraves and relatable like Taylor Swift, documents Zoee's cross-continent move, a handful of heartbreaks, and reflections on femininity.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, in nearly half of the countries examined, higher rates of polygyny were associated with fewer, not more, unmarried men.—
David W. Lawson,
The Conversation,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Keaton had a pretty strong stance on staying unmarried, stemming from a moment in her childhood.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Official portraits projected her as a modern iteration of 19th-century royal mothers—soft, demure, virginal.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
10 May 2025
-
In fact, a single Old Testament line might be the source for the virginal aspect of the cult of Mary.—
Lamorna Ash,
The Dial,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
De Silva, police noted, was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the quarrel and was not believed to have been the target.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
So that seemingly innocent Machu Picchu stamp—one of the most popular souvenir stamps around—could be viewed not as a harmless keepsake but as an unauthorized alteration that might jeopardize your ability to travel.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
From waste to roofs RMIT project lead Dr Chamila Gunasekara said the results highlight how waste materials can replace virgin resources while improving performance.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Among the award recipients were Unilever, for its sustainability efforts, which is working toward net zero emissions, regenerative agriculture, 97 percent deforestation, free sourcing and major cuts in virgin plastic by 2026.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Celibate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/celibate. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share