censorious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
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anticensoriousnessnoun
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censoriousnessnoun
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noncensoriousnessnoun
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overcensoriousnessnoun
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uncensoriousnessnoun
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anticensoriousadjective
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noncensoriousadjective
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overcensoriousadjective
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uncensoriousadjective
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anticensoriouslyadverb
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censoriouslyadverb
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noncensoriouslyadverb
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overcensoriouslyadverb
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uncensoriouslyadverb
Etymology
Origin of censorious
1530–40; < Latin cēnsōrius of a censor, hence, austere, moral; see censor, -tory 1
Explanation
Censorious, an adjective, describes people who are so critical, they find something wrong in everything. Do not let censorious guests come to your next dinner party! Censorious, pronounced "sen-SOAR-ee-us," comes from the Latin word censura, meaning "judgment." Someone who is censorious judges everyone and everything, ruining everyone's good time with harsh criticisms. The sky is too blue. Your dog is too friendly. The zebra has too many stripes. You get the idea. A censorious person makes others say, "So...is there anything you do like?"
Vocabulary lists containing censorious
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
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Into Thin Air
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Franny and Zooey
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One surefire way to be cast as the villain in American culture is to be seen as censorious.
From Salon ● Apr. 29, 2026
We are seeing a censorious instinct bubbling up in politicians alarmed by these developments.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
But the council’s censorious plans for the library made them “outraged, and this was enough,” said Carryl.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2025
Stories of censorious undergraduates and ridiculous newspeak in the U.S. found grateful consumers in French, German, and U.K. media.
From Slate ● Jan. 5, 2025
Much advice on style is stern and censorious.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
