Puritanical: meaning, definitions and examples

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puritanical

 

[ ˌpjʊərɪˈtænɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

strict beliefs

Having or showing a strict belief in moral or religious principles, often to an extent seen as excessive or prudish.

Synonyms

prudish, strict, uptight

Examples of usage

  • He was raised in a puritanical household where dancing and card playing were strictly forbidden.
  • The puritanical views of the community led to the banning of many forms of entertainment.
Context #2 | Adjective

strict behavior

Characterized by strict moral or religious behavior, often involving self-discipline and a sense of austerity.

Synonyms

austere, rigorous, self-disciplined

Examples of usage

  • The puritanical lifestyle of the monks included long hours of prayer and simple meals.
  • She admired his puritanical dedication to his work, never wavering in his commitment.

Translations

Translations of the word "puritanical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 puritano

🇮🇳 सख्त धार्मिक

🇩🇪 puritanisch

🇮🇩 puritan

🇺🇦 пуританський

🇵🇱 purytański

🇯🇵 禁欲的な

🇫🇷 puritain

🇪🇸 puritano

🇹🇷 puritan

🇰🇷 청교도의

🇸🇦 متزمت

🇨🇿 puritánský

🇸🇰 puritánsky

🇨🇳 清教徒的

🇸🇮 puritanski

🇮🇸 púrítanskur

🇰🇿 пуритандық

🇬🇪 პურიტანული

🇦🇿 puritan

🇲🇽 puritano

Word origin

The word 'puritanical' originated from the term 'Puritan', which refers to a member of a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who advocated strict moral and religious principles. The term later evolved to describe anyone with excessively strict or prudish beliefs. The Puritans were known for their emphasis on simplicity, self-discipline, and moral purity, traits that are reflected in the modern usage of the word 'puritanical'.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,415, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.