puritanical

adjective

pu·​ri·​tan·​i·​cal ˌpyu̇r-ə-ˈta-ni-kəl How to pronounce puritanical (audio)
Synonyms of puritanical
1
: of, relating to, or characterized by a rigid morality
2
: puritan
puritanically
ˌpyu̇r-ə-ˈta-ni-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce puritanical (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of puritanical

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Examples of puritanical in a Sentence

some of the state laws concerning sexual behavior are vestiges of a more puritanical time and are rarely, if ever, enforced
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Our culture is losing sight of the value of knowledge and literacy, embracing instead ideas that are surface-level, puritanical and uncomplicated. — Mckenna Friedland, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 Students marched against the Vietnam War, demanded racial and gender justice, challenged puritanical norms, and torched symbols of establishment power. — Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 She’s been attacked, her puritanical sister has landed from America, and murder is starting to feel less like a paranoid theory than a reasonable working assumption. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 22 June 2026 Perhaps because of its puritanical roots, any place that serves alcohol in Boston also has to have a full menu—so there aren’t straight-up bars here or anywhere else. — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for puritanical

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of puritanical was in 1598

Rhymes for puritanical

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Browse Nearby Words

puritanic
puritanical
puritanism
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Cite this Entry

“Puritanical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puritanical. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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