puritanical
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for puritanical, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Excessively strict about morality, especially regarding pleasure, sex, or entertainment.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use puritanical
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
puritanical attitude
puritanical rules
Almost always used disapprovingly, implying the strictness is excessive or old-fashioned.
Etymology
From puritanic (relating to the Puritans) plus the adjective suffix -al.
Full origin of puritanical →Frequently asked questions
What does “puritanical” mean?
The word “puritanical” means excessively strict about morality, especially regarding pleasure, sex, or entertainment. In plain terms, overly strict or disapproving about morals and pleasure, often used critically.
How do you pronounce “puritanical”?
“Puritanical” is pronounced pyoorr-ih-TAN-ih-kuhl (/pjɚ.ɪˈtæn.ɪ.kl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “puritanical” in a sentence?
Here is “puritanical” used in a sentence: “The school's puritanical dress code banned even mild makeup.”
What part of speech is “puritanical”?
“Puritanical” is an adjective.
Where does the word “puritanical” come from?
The word “puritanical” comes from Latin. From puritanic (relating to the Puritans) plus the adjective suffix -al.
