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Priggish: meaning, definitions and examples

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priggish

 

[ หˆprษชษกษชสƒ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavioral attitude

Priggish refers to a person who is overly concerned with proper behavior and morality, often to the point of being self-righteous or pretentious. Such individuals tend to show excessive pride in their own sense of correctness or propriety, often criticizing others for not meeting their standards. The term carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the person is not only strict about moral codes but also lacks genuine understanding of others' circumstances.

Synonyms

moralistic, prim, sanctimonious, self-righteous, wholesome

Examples of usage

  • He was criticized for his priggish attitude at the party.
  • Her priggish remarks about others' choices annoyed everyone.
  • The priggish neighbor always reported any noise to the authorities.

Translations

Translations of the word "priggish" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น moralista

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเค‚เค•เฅเคšเคฟเคค

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช moralisch

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ sombong

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟัƒั€ะธั‚ะฐะฝััŒะบะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ moralizator

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆฐ—ๅ–ใ‚Šๅฑ‹ใฎ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท prude

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ moralista

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ahlakรงฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ณ ์ƒํ•œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ุชุฒู…ุช

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ moralizujรญcรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ morรกlny

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้“ๅพท็š„

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ moralizatorski

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ moralskur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะผะพั€ะฐะปะธัั‚ั–ะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒแƒ แƒแƒšแƒ˜แƒ–แƒแƒขแƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ moralist

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ moralista

Word origin

The word 'priggish' originated in the early 19th century, deriving from the noun 'prig,' which means a self-righteous or pedantic person. The noun 'prig' is believed to have come from the earlier English word 'priggen,' referring to a thief or to someone of little worth. This contrasts sharply with the evolved meaning of 'priggish,' which embodies a type of moral superiority and disdain for perceived immorality. By the mid-1800s, the term 'priggish' took on its current sense, describing someone who is excessively concerned with detail and propriety, often at the expense of being relatable or understanding of more relaxed attitudes. It reflects a societal critique of those who uphold rigid moral standards while lacking compassion. As the meaning solidified, it became associated with a type of upper-class demeanor, often criticizing individuals who take pride in their manners and education while looking down upon those who do not adhere to the same societal codes.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,680, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.