goody-goody
Americannoun
-
goody-goodies
plural
adjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of goody-goody
First recorded in 1870–75; reduplication of goody 2
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.
See Examples For:
Resolute, Mary sets out on a path to become the serious-minded goody-goody readers recognize.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
“I’ve been fighting that goody-goody stuff for years, because if you let people make you out to be perfect there just ain’t no margin for error,” he told his children.
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2021
It’s drive-in, drive-through and road-trip season, and especially on sunny days, sometimes food doesn’t have to be goody-goody to be good.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 21, 2017
Deep down, I was decent and proper, a goody-goody, and, I thought, perhaps that was also why I couldn’t write.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 10, 2016
I shake my head primly, feeling like a real goody-goody or at least a barren subject for the gossips, present company included.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Still, it’s a safe bet that Reijn believes these goody-goodies will grow up to make their own mistakes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024
Milligan has the most obvious showstoppers, one per act, in which she introduces her crew of goody-goodies — now including Kimberly and Seth — to the thrilling anarchy of selfishness.
From New York Times ● Nov. 10, 2022
“But then there came this resurgence of monogamous commitments, and the concept of yearning to go back to the wholesome, good old days of goody-goodies like Donna Reed.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2022
Meanwhile many artists, however strong their faith, chafe under both that artistically restrictive pressure from within and the stigma against goody-goodies in the commercial world.
From Slate ● Jun. 6, 2019
“I know you goody-goodies think I’m always the bad guy,” he said.
From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
