Jesuitical

American  

[jezh-oo-it-i-kuhl, jez-oo-, jez-yoo-] / ˌdʒɛʒ uˈɪt ɪ kəl, ˌdʒɛz u-, ˌdʒɛz yu- /

Also Jesuitic

adjective

1. of or relating to Jesuits or Jesuitism.

2. (often lowercase) practicing casuistry or equivocation; using subtle or oversubtle reasoning; crafty; sly; intriguing.

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Other Word Forms

• Jesuitically adverb
• anti-Jesuitic adjective
• anti-Jesuitical adjective
• anti-Jesuitically adverb
• pro-Jesuitic adjective
• pro-Jesuitical adjective
• pro-Jesuitically adverb
• un-Jesuitic adjective
• un-Jesuitical adjective
• un-Jesuitically adverb

Etymology

Origin of Jesuitical

First recorded in 1590–1600; Jesuit + -ical

Example Sentences

Frank Pembleton, upright, intense, intellectual, philosophical, confrontational, Jesuitical, “legendary” within the world of the show, he was the series’ gravitational center, a brilliant detective and a psychologically acute interrogator.

From Los Angeles Times

These working-class folks seemed puzzled by Brown’s Jesuitical enviro-hipster act, but they cheered anyway, as instructed.

From Washington Post

Ironically, he cited the phrase “Jesuitical casuistry” in his argument, apparently unaware that he was employing it.

From Washington Post

“I think that the pope has this sort of innate Jesuitical modesty — the higher the expectations, the greater the frustration,” Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta said at Monday’s press conference.

From Washington Times

A deeply religious man with a Jesuitical cast of mind, he began to doubt his faith.

From New York Times