continent 1 of 2

noun

ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
Definition of continentnext
as in mainland
one of the great divisions of land on the globe or the main part of such a division Europe and Asia are sometimes considered together to be one continent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

continent

2 of 2

adjective

ˈkän-tə-nənt How to pronounce continent (audio)
as in temperate
given to or marked by restraint in the satisfaction of one's appetites a religious sect that expects its unmarried members to be completely celibate and its married adherents to maintain continent relationships

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of continent
Noun
Europe is now the fastest-warming continent, with 150 million people enduring extreme heat and hundreds dead, the latest consequence of climate change, scientists say. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 Hidden within the sculpture is a cutout shaped like the African continent, symbolizing Parker’s connection to Black culture and history. — J.m. Banks june 29, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026 Total exports of portable air conditioners from China to Western Europe had already surged 70% in the first five months of 2026, before severe summer heat swept the AC-shy continent. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 30 June 2026 The research also advances our understanding of how dinosaurs moved around the southern continents, according to study coauthor Samantha Beeston, a palaeontology doctoral student at University College London. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for continent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for continent
  1. mainland
  2. temperate
  3. ascetic
  4. abstemious
  5. abstinent
Noun
  • In Isla de la Juventud, south of mainland Cuba, Marlys Ruiz has built a platform around a different kind of visibility.
    — Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
  • Most development in Hawaii falls within Special Management Areas, triggering archaeological and environmental review requirements that few mainland markets face.
    — Jonathan Tower, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of mainland
Adjective
  • Best Time to Visit Bellevue’s location in the heart of the Pacific Northwest means that its weather is generally temperate, with mild, rainy springs and warm, sunny summers.
    — Sara Harowitz, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • This correlation is also stronger in more temperate regions than tropics, and in countries with fewer human impacts on the environment.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Definition of temperate
Adjective
  • Once inside, warm, tropical breezes flow into the hotel’s ascetic, nevertheless grand lobby, wafting you towards a magical cloister filled with plants and robust Botero sculptures.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026
  • Grothendieck was intense and ascetic from his early days.
    — Konstantin Kakaes, Quanta Magazine, 20 May 2026
Definition of ascetic
Adjective
  • Lunchtimes are more abstemious with avocado and tuna packed poke bowls and watermelon salad at the W lounge.
    — Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
  • His first term now looks practically abstemious.
    — Erin Neil, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of abstemious
Adjective
  • One of the sacrifices Dolan mentioned in his speech was staying abstinent.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
  • Like Ash Wednesday, Good Friday is a day where Catholics are obliged to fast and stay abstinent throughout the day until midnight.
    — Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of abstinent

Browse Nearby Words

continence
continent
continental
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Cite this Entry

“Continent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/continent. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on continent

Nglish: Translation of continent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about continent

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