adj
C2
Proficient
puritanical
pyoorr-ih-TAN-ih-kuhl
Puritanical (adj) means Excessively strict about morality, especially regarding pleasure, sex, or entertainment. Example: “The school's puritanical dress code banned even mild makeup.”
adj
1
Excessively strict about morality, especially regarding pleasure, sex, or entertainment.
"The school's puritanical dress code banned even mild makeup."
"Critics called the censorship puritanical and outdated."
How to use puritanical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOverly strict or disapproving about morals and pleasure, often used critically.
When to use it
Almost always used disapprovingly, implying the strictness is excessive or old-fashioned.
Common pairings
puritanical attitude
puritanical rules
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Word forms
- Plural
- puritanicals
- Comparative
- more puritanical
- Superlative
- most puritanical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The school's _____ dress code banned even mild makeup.
Etymology
From puritanic (relating to the Puritans) plus the adjective suffix -al.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for puritanical
See all rhymes for 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.
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