priggish

[ prig-ish ]

/ ˈprɪg ɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: priggish / priggishness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

fussy about trivialities or propriety, especially in a self-righteous or irritating manner:At the beginning of the book, Eustace is an unpleasant, unlikable, and priggish character.He never softened his message to please genteel tastes or priggish scruples.

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Origin of priggish

prig¹ + -ish¹

OTHER WORDS FROM priggish

prig·gish·ly, adverbprig·gish·ness, nounun·prig·gish, adjective

Words nearby priggish

Priestley, priestly, priest-ridden, prig, priggery, priggish, priggism, Prigogine, prill, prilocaine, Prilosec

How to use priggish in a sentence

He then immediately grills her about the men’s razors in her bathroom—perhaps a hint at the insecurities that sparked his priggish request in the first place.
‘Succession’ Season 3 Premiere Recap: Kendall Channels O.J. and Logan Wants Blood|Laura Bradley|October 18, 2021|The Daily Beast
The same goes for low-sugar gummy candies like Smart Sweets and Behave, which in another decade might have been presented as priggish.
A Gummy for Whatever Ails You|Rachel Del Valle|August 27, 2021|Eater
Roth, priggish to the end, responds, "I'm warning you—stay away from my kids!"
Doonesbury Mocks Wesleyan President|Barbara Spindel|December 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
This judicial bent of the child is a curious one and often develops a priggish fondness for setting others morally straight.
Children's Ways|James Sully

And yet if we had been that low-cut lady we would certainly have given that interfering and priggish little youngster a walloping.
Seeing Things at Night|Heywood Broun
He's a bit of a prig—in fact, he's as priggish as he well can be—but he's never done anything but run straight.
Hyacinth|George A. Birmingham
Amy was telling me of some priggish things that Miss Belloc had said, and I did use those very words yesterday.
Amy in Acadia|Helen Leah Reed
The development of Percival from a priggish misanthrope to a man and a lover is beautifully told.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 148, January 13th 1915|Various