moralize

American  

[mawr-uh-lahyz, mor-] / ˈmɔr əˌlaɪz, ˈmɒr- /

especially British, moralise

verb (used without object)

moralized, moralizing

1. 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)

moralized, moralizing

1. to explain in a moral sense, or draw a moral from.

2. to improve the morals of.

moralize British  

/ ˈmɒrəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (intr) to make moral pronouncements

2. (tr) to interpret or explain in a moral sense

3. (tr) to improve the morals of

---

Other Word Forms

• moralization noun
• moralizer noun
• moralizingly adverb
• overmoralize verb
• overmoralizingly adverb
• unmoralizing adjective

Etymology

Origin of moralize

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

Example Sentences

“Adolescence” refuses to moralize, but in Jamie, the series finds a cherubic picture of innocence corrupted that can be applied to youth everywhere.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2025

If Brasher sometimes tends to moralize when he writes about birds, it isn’t Aesopian.

From Washington Post • Apr. 29, 2023

I wouldn’t moralize and say that’s bad — I think people create arrangements that work for them.

From The Verge • May 23, 2022

Review: Plenty of novels moralize about books saving your life.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2022

I came here to moralize, not to hear things that make me skip to think of.”

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott