doctrinaire

American  

[dok-truh-nair] / ˈdɒk trəˈnɛər /

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 British  

/ 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

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

Etymology

Origin of doctrinaire

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

Example Sentences

A fun game to play is to ask your most politically doctrinaire friends if there’s a policy they secretly support that cuts against their usual views.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC

His harping on this point could come across as doctrinaire.

From 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.”

From Los Angeles Times

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?

From New York Times