All words

abstemious

Meaning

Characterized by self-denial or abstinence, especially in eating and drinking.

Examples by difficulty

Basic: Simple, everyday vocabulary — the easiest to read.

Anna was always abstemious at family dinners. While others filled their plates with big helpings of every dish, she chose only a few small bites and drank only water. Her brother often teased her for not joining in, but Anna said she just liked feeling in control.

He ate only plain rice and water, a truly abstemious choice. His stomach grumbled, but he knew he had to be strong. This was the only way to get better.

After years of hard living, Tom decided to become more abstemious. His doctor's warnings about his health finally sank in, and he started eating smaller portions, cutting out late-night snacks, and limiting himself to one beer on weekends instead of his usual nightly six-pack.

Everyone was shocked when Sam, usually first in line for pizza, acted abstemious at the buffet and ate only a single lettuce leaf. His friends stared in horror, wondering if he’d been replaced by an alien that believed restraint at mealtimes was Earth’s new rule.

Barnaby, a man known for his truly abstemious approach to snacks, once stared down a giant donut. His eyes twinkled, his stomach rumbled, but he took only one tiny lick. Later, he explained his restraint was a noble act of self-control, not a fear of sugar comas.

Normal: Standard, everyday language.

At the dinner party, Sarah watched as her friend Susan carefully selected only a small portion of salad and a glass of water to consume. Susan's abstemious behavior stood out among the other guests who were indulging in rich foods and multiple glasses of wine. Sarah admired Susan's discipline and self-control, realizing that her friend was indeed very abstemious in her eating habits.

Throughout her life, Eleanor maintained an abstemious diet, consuming only modest portions of nutritious foods and avoiding excessive indulgences. Her temperate habits extended to her social life, where she preferred calm gatherings over raucous parties. This restraint reflected in her overall demeanor, exuding a sense of composure and mindful living.

The old house stood silent and foreboding, its walls covered in a thick layer of dust. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of decay. A lone figure wandered through the dimly lit rooms, their footsteps echoing ominously. The figure was abstemious, their gaunt frame a stark contrast to the opulence that surrounded them. They moved with purpose, their movements controlled and deliberate. As they reached the grand dining hall, they paused, their eyes lingering on the lavish feast that lay untouched on the table. With a shiver, they turned away, a sense of unease settling over them.

In the desolate wasteland, starvation gnawed at the abstemious wanderer. Hunger clawed at his belly, but he refused sustenance, his will steeled by desperation. His hollow gaze surveyed the unforgiving dunes, each grain a cruel reminder of his self-inflicted torment. As the sun beat down mercilessly, thirst parched his throat, but still, he resisted the allure of the shimmering mirage.

In the land of Elmswood, the elves were known for their abstemious nature. They lived off the fruits and nuts of the forest, never indulging in the rich feasts that the other creatures enjoyed. Even during the grand celebrations, the elves would only take a small sip of the mead, their eyes filled with restraint. Their abstemious ways were admired by all, as it reflected their discipline and self-control. While others gorged themselves on lavish meals and endless drinks, the elves remained content with their simple fare. Their abstemious lifestyle was a testament to their inner strength and willpower.

Advanced: Richer vocabulary that stretches an upper-level reader.

Anna lived an abstemious life, never eating more than she needed or staying at parties long when drinks were offered. Friends sometimes asked if she felt left out, but she explained it made her feel lighter and more in control, especially after her father’s struggles with alcohol.

He watched the others gorge themselves at the feast, a pang of envy quickly suppressed. His abstemious nature, a lifelong habit, meant he was content with a modest portion. He knew this restraint, though difficult tonight, would serve him well tomorrow.

After months of indulgent holidays, Marcus decided to become more abstemious. He carefully portioned his meals, skipped desserts, and limited himself to one glass of wine with dinner, feeling a renewed sense of control and wellness with each disciplined choice.

Despite the dazzling dessert tray that followed dinner, Herman remained abstemious, nibbling a single grape while his friends devoured éclairs and tiramisu. “I practice restraint,” he declared grandly, though everyone suspected he was still haunted by last week’s cheesecake incident, which required both paramedics and a forklift.

Gerald, an abstemious soul, approached the buffet table with the grim determination of a monk entering a pie-eating contest. While others piled their plates sky-high with gluttonous abandon, Gerald delicately selected a single prune and a thimbleful of lukewarm water, a testament to his formidable self-control.

Challenging: Rare, high-register vocabulary for serious word lovers.

While everyone else indulged in lavish meals and toasts at the company banquet, Marta remained abstemious, politely refusing the desserts and limiting herself to water. Her restraint did not go unnoticed; her colleagues admired her ability to resist temptation with such composure and discipline.

He was exceptionally abstemious, a deliberate choice to honor his newfound spiritual discipline. While others indulged in the lavish feast, he partook sparingly, his restraint a quiet testament to his commitment, a palpable air of self-denial emanating from his stoic demeanor.

After years of carousing, Jack adopted an abstemious lifestyle, carefully measuring his portions and limiting himself to a single glass of wine with dinner. His newfound discipline surprised his friends, who remembered him as a reckless partier just months before.

Despite the lavish buffet groaning under platters of éclairs and goblets of bubbling champagne, Gerald remained abstemious, selecting only a solitary carrot stick and sipping seltzer with the air of a monk on a juice cleanse, causing his ravenous companions to question his sanity and secretly wager on his resolve.

Bartholomew, a paragon of abstemious living, would forgo gluttonous feasting, instead meticulously selecting a single, desiccated prune for his repast. His austere demeanor and penchant for gargantuan naps post-snack were testament to his extreme restraint from gustatory indulgence.

Difficulty

Advanced — Less frequent words that stretch an upper-level vocabulary.

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