moralize

[mawr-uh-lahyz, mor-]

See more synonyms for moralize on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), mor·al·ized, mor·al·iz·ing.

to reflect on or express opinions about something in terms of right and wrong, especially in a self-righteous or tiresome way.

verb (used with object), mor·al·ized, mor·al·iz·ing.

to explain in a moral sense, or draw a moral from.
to improve the morals of.

Also especially British, mor·al·ise.

Origin of moralize

1350–1400; Middle English moralisen < Medieval Latin mōrālizāre. See moral, -ize

Related formsmor·al·i·za·tion, nounmor·al·iz·er, nounmor·al·iz·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·mor·al·ize, verb, o·ver·mor·al·ized, o·ver·mor·al·iz·ing.o·ver·mor·al·iz·ing·ly, adverbun·mor·al·iz·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for moralize

edify, sermonize, admonish, pontificate, lecture, teach, preachify

Examples from the Web for moralize

Contemporary Examples of moralize

No big surprise In 2nd, Mr. Moralize But who should take a curtain call?
The Song of Newt Gingrich: From Longshot To Hotshot To No Shot
April 26, 2012

Historical Examples of moralize

It is easy for persons with plenty of money to moralize on the shortcomings of others.
A Woman Intervenes
Robert Barr
If I do not moralize as I go along, I shall not have a chance to do it any where else.
An Old Sailor's Yarns
Nathaniel Ames
They were not here to moralize—they had something else to do.
The Trail of a Sourdough
May Kellogg Sullivan
Here we might moralize if we had the room, but moralizing is out of the question.
The American Family Robinson
D. W. Belisle
So he watched the woman gravely, and began to moralize with all his might.
A Simpleton
Charles Reade

British Dictionary definitions for moralize

moralize

moralise

verb

(intr) to make moral pronouncements
(tr) to interpret or explain in a moral sense
(tr) to improve the morals of

Derived Formsmoralization or moralisation, nounmoralizer or moraliser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for moralize

c.1400, "expound or interpret spiritual or moral significance," from Old French moraliser and directly from Late Latin moralizare, from moralis (see moral (adj.)). Related: Moralized; moralizing.