chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.
they maintained chaste relations
pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.
the pure of heart
modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.
preferred more modest swimsuits
decent people didn't go to such movies
Example Sentences
a chaste kiss on the cheek as one would expect, the minister's small talk is always chaste, even though he likes a joke as much as the next person
Recent Examples on the WebBut not a saint in terms of being chaste and pure and sexless. Abby Diamond, Billboard, 2 Sep. 2022 Lynnia Shanley’s performance as Andrew’s squealy and ultra-chaste actress girlfriend Deidre is exuberant, but never feels like a real person. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2022 These chaste messages gave rise to a more offbeat (and unofficial) transmission in the 1980s. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 May 2022 Even in chaste scenes, Acosta’s tenor and Hadley’s baritone swirl within each other in an aural reflection of sensual passion. Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2022 Star Jonathan Bailey, who plays romantic lead Anthony Bridgerton, stood by the more chaste season. David Oliver, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2022 But that’s about it for an interior life, and even his hallucinations are chaste and not terribly interesting. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 Feb. 2022 Their love story is intense, chaste and entirely winning.New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022 In these images, the puzzle represents the enigma of female desire and fuels the intimacy between men and women in an otherwise chaste culture of heterosexual courtship. Anna Shechtman, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin castus pure