moralize
[mawr-uh-lahyz, mor-]
- to reflect on or express opinions about something in terms of right and wrong, especially in a self-righteous or tiresome way.
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- to explain in a moral sense, or draw a moral from.
- to improve the morals of.
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Also especially British, mor·al·ise.
Origin of moralize
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for moralize
Contemporary Examples
No big surprise In 2nd, Mr. Moralize But who should take a curtain call?
Historical Examples
It is easy for persons with plenty of money to moralize on the shortcomings of others.
A Woman IntervenesRobert 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 YarnsNathaniel Ames
They were not here to moralize—they had something else to do.
The Trail of a SourdoughMay Kellogg Sullivan
Here we might moralize if we had the room, but moralizing is out of the question.
The American Family RobinsonD. W. Belisle
So he watched the woman gravely, and began to moralize with all his might.
A SimpletonCharles Reade
moralize
moralise
- (intr) to make moral pronouncements
- (tr) to interpret or explain in a moral sense
- (tr) to improve the morals of
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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
v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper