moralism

[mawr-uh-liz-uhm, mor-]

noun

1. the habit of moralizing.

2. a moral maxim.

3. emphasis, especially undue emphasis, on morality.

4. the practice of morality, as distinct from religion.

moralism

/ ˈmɒrəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the habit or practice of moralizing

2. a moral saying

3. the practice of moral principles without reference to religion

Other Word Forms

• antimoralism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of moralism¹

First recorded in 1820–30; moral + -ism

Example Sentences

Though the outcomes encoded here are colored by midcentury manners, they are surprisingly daring and averse to sedate moralism.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the vice-president's willingness to step on the toes of allies reflect a world view which, in his words, has little time for "moralisms about 'this country is good', 'this country is bad'".

Read more on BBC

But it also hamstrung by its earnestness, with a tone of finger-wagging moralism that is the antithesis of fun.

Read more on New York Times

Set around a fire pit in a Wyoming backyard, where a late-night celebration among a group of conservative millennials grows combative, “Heroes” makes for a piercing deconstruction of evangelical ideals, right-wing moralism and intergenerational politics.

Read more on Washington Post

Surrealism was a free-flowing network of exchanges, translations, idealizations and misunderstandings — and on this matter, all too rarely in this age of smug cultural moralism, the curators actually treat us like adults.

Read more on New York Times

Related Words

• advice 
• exhortation 
• homily 
• lecture 
• lesson 
• preaching 
• tirade