1
as in purity
abstention from sexual intercourse
argued for a pregnancy-prevention program that did not put so much faith in the continence of teenagers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discipline
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
a religious sect that demanded nearly superhuman continence from its adherents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in temperance
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of continence
This includes the five major types: stress incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, overflow incontinence, and functional continence.
—
Jamin Brahmbhatt, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024
Good posture helps maintain continence, support pelvic organs, and reduce back pain.
—Staci Tanouye, Parents, 29 Aug. 2023
Profligate spending under George W. Bush forever made laughable any Republican assertion of fiscal continence.
—Christopher Buckley, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022
Any chance Sally or Ed has anxiety, digestive or continence issues, hearing loss …?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2023
Aging in the modern era is about slow unstoppable loss - of hearing, of memory, of mobility, of continence, of dignity.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2011
To maintain continence, the puborectalis muscle chokes the anal canal.
—Cara Schacter, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2022
But even with the delayed start, most healthy, neurotypical kids achieve at least daytime continence by age three.
—Leah Campbell, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021
Share prices have soared for large Danish health companies such as Coloplast — a major player in the market for colostomy pouches, continence and skin and wound care treatments — and Genmab, a biotech company specializing in cancer treatments.
—Matt Phillips, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2020
Jamin Brahmbhatt, Verywell Health, 29 July 2024
Good posture helps maintain continence, support pelvic organs, and reduce back pain.
—Staci Tanouye, Parents, 29 Aug. 2023
Profligate spending under George W. Bush forever made laughable any Republican assertion of fiscal continence.
—Christopher Buckley, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2022
Any chance Sally or Ed has anxiety, digestive or continence issues, hearing loss …?
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2023
Aging in the modern era is about slow unstoppable loss - of hearing, of memory, of mobility, of continence, of dignity.
—Kyle Munkittrick, Discover Magazine, 9 Sep. 2011
To maintain continence, the puborectalis muscle chokes the anal canal.
—Cara Schacter, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2022
But even with the delayed start, most healthy, neurotypical kids achieve at least daytime continence by age three.
—Leah Campbell, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2021
Share prices have soared for large Danish health companies such as Coloplast — a major player in the market for colostomy pouches, continence and skin and wound care treatments — and Genmab, a biotech company specializing in cancer treatments.
—Matt Phillips, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continence
Noun
-
This level of enrichment is just a technical step away from reaching the 90% purity required for nuclear weapons.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Bars and coins are often purchased for their purity and weight, while jewelry combines investment with aesthetics.—
Gabriel O Rodríguez,
Sacramento Bee,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s style as President offers a case study in the risks of founder-style leadership without operational discipline.—
Paul Klein,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The office also oversees a large data collection project that tracks disparities in resources, course access and discipline for students of different racial and socioeconomic groups.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This season was about restraint and impact — where luxury was deliberate, innovation measured, and the conversation between past and present more compelling than ever.—
Tianwei Zhang,
WWD,
25 Feb. 2025
-
That's reality for a country that, across Democratic and Republican administrations, has spent taxpayer money without restraint or care about debt.—
Axios,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Asked about how Kia will respond to tariffs from the Trump administration, the CEO projected temperance.—
Kristin Shaw,
Ars Technica,
27 Feb. 2025
-
For instance, courage can lead to recklessness without temperance or result in cowardice when deficient.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Francis’s promise to reconsider the doctrine of priestly celibacy had gone nowhere . . .—
Paul Elie,
The New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Mixing personal narrative with cultural criticism, the author of Girlhood explores how celibacy radicalized her, giving her permission to put all of her focus on herself, her work, and the platonic relationships that deserved more of her attention.—
Shannon Carlin,
TIME,
17 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Zelensky ordered this punishing act of political repression without due process or court proceedings.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
-
The regime has intensified its control through evil levels of repression over the past three years.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The series eschews any sort of sexuality, with even Nico’s desires getting toned down to the point of total chastity.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
29 Jan. 2025
-
The anti-erotic Christianity that Monica professed condemned the vanity of human learning and encouraged chastity.—
Mark Lilla,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
And how could anyone resist letting go of pesky inhibitions with Herman’s empowering score filling up Pasadena Playhouse with pure effervescence.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Nov. 2024
-
This could be a time to release these inhibitions and accept new journeys rather than being stuck in old patterns.—
Athena Sobhan,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Continence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continence. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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