puritanical

[pyoo r-i-tan-i-kuh l]

See more synonyms for puritanical on Thesaurus.com

adjective

very strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so; rigidly austere.
(sometimes initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Puritans or Puritanism.

Often pu·ri·tan·ic.

Origin of puritanical

First recorded in 1600–10; Puritan + -ical

Related formspu·ri·tan·i·cal·ly, adverbpu·ri·tan·i·cal·ness, nounun·pu·ri·tan·ic, adjectiveun·pu·ri·tan·i·cal, adjectiveun·pu·ri·tan·i·cal·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for puritanical

Contemporary Examples

His distaste derives from a basic confusion in the position of the puritanical prescriptivist.
Go Ahead, End With a Preposition: Grammar Rules We All Can Live With
Nick Romeo
November 3, 2014
Pope Paul VI and the Church at that time could be forgiven for puritanical idealism.
The Vatican's Same-Sex Synod: The Bishops Hear About Reality. Do They Listen?
Barbie Latza Nadeau
October 12, 2014
So, people sped by the models less out of puritanical deference to the naked bodies, but to keep up their steely reputations.
Naked on a New York Street—for Art
Emily Shire
September 16, 2014
Maybe not such a huge problem for the puritanical but sometime very practical mullahs.
As Iran’s Marijuana Trade Thrives, Is It Becoming a Nation of Stoners?
IranWire
August 10, 2014
Saudi society and government are intricately intertwined with a puritanical flavor of Islam, Wahhabism.
Will Saudi Arabia Execute Guest Workers for 'Witchcraft'?
Michael Schulson
March 29, 2014

Historical Examples

They are puritanical with intelligence, and independent with a certain grace.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
After a divorce—Seth's idea of divorces were vague and Puritanical—there would be no hope.
The Woman-Haters
Joseph C. Lincoln
There was in Hazlitt, however, a puritanical fervor which withstood the lure of expediency.
Erik Dorn
Ben Hecht
I've had too much of your puritanical, psalm-singing business.
Under Fire
Charles King
Voltaire, the least Puritanical of men, is also the least neurotic.
Suspended Judgments
John Cowper Powys

British Dictionary definitions for puritanical

puritanical

less commonly puritanic

adjective

usually derogatory strict in moral or religious outlook, esp in shunning sensual pleasures
(sometimes capital) of or relating to a puritan or the Puritans

Derived Formspuritanically, adverbpuritanicalness, 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 puritanical

adj.

c.1600, from Puritan + -ical. Chiefly in disparaging use. Related: Puritanically.

puritanical

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}puritanical

Related Words

Examples from the Web for puritanical

Contemporary Examples

His distaste derives from a basic confusion in the position of the puritanical prescriptivist.

Pope Paul VI and the Church at that time could be forgiven for puritanical idealism.

So, people sped by the models less out of puritanical deference to the naked bodies, but to keep up their steely reputations.

Maybe not such a huge problem for the puritanical but sometime very practical mullahs.

Saudi society and government are intricately intertwined with a puritanical flavor of Islam, Wahhabism.

Historical Examples

They are puritanical with intelligence, and independent with a certain grace.

After a divorce—Seth's idea of divorces were vague and Puritanical—there would be no hope.

There was in Hazlitt, however, a puritanical fervor which withstood the lure of expediency.

I've had too much of your puritanical, psalm-singing business.

Voltaire, the least Puritanical of men, is also the least neurotic.

puritanical

less commonly puritanic

Word Origin and History for puritanical

adj.

Origin of puritanical