ascetic
Renouncer of pleasures
An ascetic practices severe self-discipline, abstaining from physical pleasures and comforts—often for spiritual purposes.
Monks and hermits are classic ascetics.
As an adjective, ascetic describes this lifestyle or its qualities: an ascetic diet, ascetic devotion.
The word can also suggest austere simplicity without religious connotation: The room had an ascetic bareness.
Voluntary forgoing of indulgences
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- renunciationFormal surrender of claim
self-discipline · self-restraint · mortification · celibacy · chastity · puritanism · sobriety · continence
One choosing isolation
- anchoriteReligious recluse in enclosure
- solitudeState of being alone
- eremiteReligious hermit
- hermitageSecluded religious dwelling
solitaire · marabout · isolation · withdrawal · seclusion · desert fathers · sadhu · cenobite
Thinly scattered or distributed
- austereSeverely simple and unadorned
- bareLacking any covering
- unadornedLacking decoration or ornament
- simpleFree of complexity
plain · stark · frugal · unembellished · uncluttered · modest · functional · pared-down
Religious seclusion dwelling
- monkCloistered religious devotee
- nunHebrew alphabet's fourteenth
- vowsSolemn binding promises
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
cloister · abbey · friar · ordination · robes · alms · sangha · dharma
Focused attention practice
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- pietySincere religious devotion
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
transcendence · mindfulness · discipline · mantra · zen · detachment · purification · mysticism
Ability to restrain impulses
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
serenity · composure · detachment · imperturbability · tranquility · dispassion · calmness · willpower
abstinence
Voluntary forgoing of indulgences
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
renunciation · self-discipline · self-restraint · mortification · celibacy · chastity · puritanism · sobriety · continence · self-sacrifice
recluse
One choosing isolation
hermitage · solitaire · marabout · isolation · withdrawal · seclusion · desert fathers · sadhu · cenobite
sparse
Thinly scattered or distributed
simple · plain · stark · frugal · unembellished · uncluttered · modest · functional · pared-down · basic
monastery
Religious seclusion dwelling
contemplation · cloister · abbey · friar · ordination · robes · alms · sangha · dharma · vespers
meditation
Focused attention practice
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- pietySincere religious devotion
devotion · transcendence · mindfulness · discipline · mantra · zen · detachment · purification · mysticism · saintliness
self-control
Ability to restrain impulses
- equanimityUnshakable mental steadiness
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
resilience · serenity · composure · detachment · imperturbability · tranquility · dispassion · calmness · willpower · forbearance
- Orthodox Monksabbot, abbots, novice, novices, cenobite
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- thinkersthinkers, thinker, philosophers, philosopher, Aristotle
- lonershermit, recluse, loner, lone wolf, introvert
- solitary lifestylesolitude, isolation, hermit, loner, privacy
- monasticismabbeys, abbey, abbots, abbot, cloister
ascetichedonist
Seeker of sensual satisfaction
hedonistic · sybarite · sybaritic · sensualist · voluptuary
- ascetic lifeExistence of severe self-discipline