puritanical
pyoor-ih-TAN-ih-kuhl
/ˌpjʊə.rɪˈtæn.ɪ.kəl/
Practicing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior, often characterized by opposition to sensual pleasures.
Implies rigid, austere moral scrupulosity, self-denial, and severe judgment of others' behavior.
The story behind the word. Capitalized, 'Puritan' referred to 16th-century English Protestants who wanted to 'purify' the Church of England of Catholic practices. Their strict opposition to sports, theater, and frivolity led to the lowercase adjective 'puritanical' describing any rigid, anti-pleasure moral outlook.
Word relationships
- austere: Focuses on simplicity and lack of luxury without necessarily imposing moral judgment on others.
- prudish: Focuses specifically on exaggerated modesty regarding sexual matters.
- hedonistic: Devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-indulgence.
- permissive: Allowing freedom of behavior, especially in moral or sexual matters.
Commonly confused with
- ascetic: Ascetic is severe self-discipline for spiritual growth; puritanical often carries the nuance of judging and controlling others' morals.
Word family
- Puritan (noun): A member of a English Protestant group of the 16th–17th centuries.
- puritanism (noun): Strictness or austerity in religion and conduct.
Collocations
- puritanical streak
- puritanical attitude
- puritanical zeal
Example sentences
- "The country maintained a puritanical stance on entertainment, banning foreign films and popular music." Cultural critique
- "The protagonist struggles against the puritanical constraints of her 17th-century village." Literary analysis
Memory hook
PURITANICAL people want absolute PURITY in all behavior. Purity enforced through pleasure denial.
When not to use
Do not use simply for neatness or orderliness; it specifically refers to harsh moral strictness.
Fun facts
- H.L. Mencken famously defined Puritanism as 'the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.'
Related words
Explore more words
scrupulous, asceticism, ascetic, punctilious, sectarian, ritualistic
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