adjective

didactic

dy-DAK-tik

Didactic (adjective) means Intended to teach something, especially a moral lesson, as well as to inform or entertain. Example: “Aesop's fables are frankly didactic, each ending in a stated moral.”

adjective

Intended to teach something, especially a moral lesson, as well as to inform or entertain.

"Aesop's fables are frankly didactic, each ending in a stated moral."

"The museum takes a didactic approach, explaining every object in detail."

Too eager to instruct others, in a way that comes across as preachy or condescending.

"The novel collapses into a didactic lecture in its final chapters."

How to Use Didactic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMeant to teach you a lesson — sometimes too obviously.

When to use it

Formal; frequent in literary criticism, education and art writing.

Easily confused with

pedantic → dogmatic doctrinaire

Common pairings

didactic tone didactic poem overly didactic didactic purpose

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Aesop's fables are frankly _____, each ending in a stated moral.

Etymology

From Greek didaktikos 'skilled at teaching', from didaskein 'to teach'.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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instructive educational edifying pedagogic preachy moralising sententious patronising

Related Words

educational academic improving educating informative instructive mansplaining eye opening

Rhymes for didactic

tactic galactic anaphylactic intergalactic

See all rhymes for didactic →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is didactic a compliment or a criticism?

It depends on the context. Applied to a textbook, a museum label or a fable it is neutral and simply describes teaching intent. Applied to a novel, a film or a person it is usually a complaint that the lesson has crowded out the art or the conversation.

What is the difference between didactic and pedantic?

Didactic is about instructing, often morally. Pedantic is about fussing over small details and correctness. A didactic speaker wants to improve you; a pedantic one wants to correct you.

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