self-denial
Refusing personal pleasures
Self-denial is the practice of refusing oneself pleasures or comforts, often for moral, religious, or disciplinary reasons.
It suggests voluntary sacrifice rather than deprivation imposed from outside: Years of self-denial had made him austere.
The term carries overtones of virtue or asceticism, though it can shade into unhealthy self-punishment.
Deliberate food avoidance
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
- teetotalismTotal sobriety as principle
- refrainingChoosing not to act
abstention · moderation · forbearance · celibacy · chastity · continence · purification · nonindulgence
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- unselfishnessConcern for others' welfare
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
- abnegationRejection of oneself
renunciation · generosity · devotion · foregoing · giving up · nobility · heroism · service
Of religious community life
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
- monkCloistered religious devotee
- nunHebrew alphabet's fourteenth
reclusion · minimalism · puritanism · stoicism · spartan · frugality · simplicity · vow
Firmness of purpose
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- restraintControl over impulses
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
perseverance · tenacity · steadfastness · endurance · resilience · resistance · inhibition · suppression
fasting
Deliberate food avoidance
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- sobrietyUnimpaired mental state
- teetotalismTotal sobriety as principle
refraining · abstention · moderation · forbearance · celibacy · chastity · continence · purification · nonindulgence · renouncing
altruism
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- unselfishnessConcern for others' welfare
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
abnegation · renunciation · generosity · devotion · foregoing · giving up · nobility · heroism · service · offering
monastic
Of religious community life
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
- monkCloistered religious devotee
nun · reclusion · minimalism · puritanism · stoicism · spartan · frugality · simplicity · vow · piety
determination
Firmness of purpose
grit · perseverance · tenacity · steadfastness · endurance · resilience · resistance · inhibition · suppression · impulse control
- identityidentity, personal identity, ego, individuality, individuation
- abstinencesobriety, celibacy, chastity, teetotalism, fasting
- frugalityfrugality, thrift, frugal, penny-pinching, economize
- self-controlrestraint, willpower, composure, moderation, temperance
- self-disciplinerestraint, impulse control, willpower, discipline, emotional control
- self-sacrificehuman shield, selflessness, renunciation, forfeit, organ donation
self-denialself-indulgence
Excessive yielding to desires
indulgence · hedonism · self-gratification · intemperance · excess
self-denialacceptance
Consent to receive
embrace · self-acceptance · embracement · self-affirmation · adoption
self-denialegoism
Doctrine of self-motivation
selfishness · self-centeredness · egotism · self-interest · self-serving
self, deny, denial, denied, undeniable, undeniably, denies, self-denying, selfhood