prudery

noun

prud·​ery ˈprü-d(ə-)rē How to pronounce prudery (audio)
plural pruderies
1
: the characteristic quality or state of a prude
2
: a prudish act or remark

Examples of prudery in a Sentence

such prudery regarding artistic depictions of the nude has no place on a college campus
Recent Examples on the Web Ants Tammik’s camerawork is similarly inspired, especially in the framing of the women’s bodies which are displayed without prudery but also without prurience, and usually only partially — backs, breasts, bellies, chins propped on knees. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Mar. 2023 The mother of punk, Westwood has little patience for propriety or prudery, as evidenced by a famous picture in which she’s joined by Chrissie Hynde and shopgirl Jordan. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2021 That was a time when there was a tremendous interest in the difference between the sexuality of real, ordinary people — real life — and the prudery of Hollywood. Chris Stanton, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2022 But the authors were after more than a simple international report card of prudery. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2011 In her frank exploration of animal vaginas, Brennan is beginning to challenge some the traces of prudery, male bias and lack of curiosity about female genitals that Darwin left behind. Rachel E. Gross, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2022 Populating the novel is the usual cast of characters, foremost among them the cop shop’s inimitable secretary, Agatino Catarella, who blends obsequiousness, prudery and verbal ineptitude into a patois all his own. Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2021 Instead, in their misguided attempt to protect children, Jim Exon and company would export a vision of America based on fear, prudery, ignorance and oppression. Steven Levy, Wired, 29 May 2020 Even if the past has a rich erotic literature, contemporary literature is less prudish than in the past, with the exception of Russia, which has never been freed from prudery. Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov, Harper's magazine, 28 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prudery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1709, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prudery was in 1709

Dictionary Entries Near prudery

Cite this Entry

“Prudery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prudery. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prudery

noun
prud·​ery ˈprüd-(ə-)rē How to pronounce prudery (audio)
plural pruderies
1
: the quality or state of being prudish
2
: a prudish remark or act
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