sexual abstinence
Refraining from intercourse
Sexual abstinence is refraining from sexual activity, either temporarily or permanently.
The term often appears in discussions of religious practice, birth control, or disease prevention: The program promoted sexual abstinence until marriage.
Complete abstinence means avoiding all sexual contact; some definitions include only intercourse, allowing other activities.
- celibateAbstaining from sex
- celibacy vowPledge to abstain sexually
- chastityAbstaining from sexual activity
- continenceControl over bodily functions
- self-restraintVoluntary impulse control
temperance · true love waits · asceticism · self-denial · virginity · marriage · faithfulness · marital fidelity · moral integrity · spiritual purity · religious vocation · monastic vows · purity culture · spiritual discipline · ethical conduct · moral teachings · moral high ground · modesty
- chastitychastity, celibacy, virginity, purity, chastity vow
- Religious AbstinenceLent, Ramadan, celibacy, chastity, dietary laws
sexual abstinencesexual activity
Physical erotic engagement
promiscuity · casual sex · sleeping around · sexual intercourse · free love
sexual abstinencehedonism
Pursuit of gratification
lasciviousness · debauchery · licentiousness · carnality · concupiscence
sexual, sexier, sexiest, sexily, sexiness, sexuality, sexualize, sexualized, asexual