doctrinaire

[dok-truh-nair]

noun

1. a person who tries to apply some doctrine or theory without sufficient regard for practical considerations; an impractical theorist.

adjective

1. dogmatic about others' acceptance of one's ideas; fanatical.

   a doctrinaire preacher.

   Synonyms: unyielding, inflexible, uncompromising, authoritarian
   Antonyms: flexible, reasonable

2. merely theoretical; impractical.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a doctrinaire.

doctrinaire

/ ˌdɒktrɪˈnɛə /

adjective

1. stubbornly insistent on the observation of the niceties of a theory, esp without regard to practicality, suitability, etc

2. theoretical; impractical

noun

1. a person who stubbornly attempts to apply a theory without regard to practical difficulties

Other Word Forms

• doctrinarian noun
• doctrinairism noun
• nondoctrinaire adjective
• overdoctrinaire adjective
• undoctrinaire adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of doctrinaire¹

From French, dating back to 1810–20; doctrine, -aire

Example Sentences

"The modernism that was around before the 1980s was very grey, restrictive, utilitarian and quite doctrinaire really," Farrell said.

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His harping on this point could come across as doctrinaire.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Where Eve once seemed wild and inspired to Joan,” writes Anolik, “she now seemed slack and slothful. Where Joan once seemed meticulous and masterly to Eve, she now seemed dogged and doctrinaire.”

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As she put together the program this summer, with the presidential campaign going through head-snapping gyrations, Huntsinger says the political theme emerged organically rather than out of any doctrinaire impulse.

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I’ve just spent a week tramping across Venice, a city of more than 250 churches, and where did I encounter the most doctrinaire catechism?

Read more on New York Times