Someone who shows restraint, especially with food or drink.
Examples:
Julia's abstemious diet paid off with increased energy.Despite being surrounded by indulgence, he remained abstemious.The monk's abstemious lifestyle impressed his followers.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Abstinent
/ˈabstɪnənt/
Refraining from indulging in something, often alcohol or other pleasures.
Examples:
He maintained an abstinent lifestyle, avoiding all temptations.Her abstinent approach to sugar improved her health greatly.Despite pressures, he remained abstinent from alcohol at the party.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
Abstemious relates to moderation, focusing on controlling one's consumption, particularly with food and drink.
Abstinent involves completely avoiding certain substances or activities, often for moral or health reasons.
Think of abstemious as moderate and abstinent as none.
Abstemious highlights balance, while abstinent implies total restraint.
Consider abstemious as taking small sips and abstinent as avoiding the drink entirely.