moralist

noun

mor·​al·​ist ˈmȯr-ə-list 

ˈmär-

1

: one who leads a moral life

2

: a philosopher or writer concerned with moral principles and problems

3

: one concerned with regulating the morals of others

Synonyms of moralist

• puritan

Examples of moralist in a Sentence

a smattering of moralists around the country tried to get the songs banned from the radio

Recent Examples on the Web

Of course, morality can still play a role in political thinking, just not the all-encompassing and determinative one that moralists ascribe to it. —Andrew Day, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2026

Arnold’s own criticism often focussed on expanding horizons and recovering unknown authors, from the moralist Joseph Joubert to the diarist Eugénie de Guérin. —Colton Valentine, New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2026

When literature was considered transgressive, moralists couldn’t get people to stop buying and reading dangerous books. —Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026

The gaydar of a founding mother and a Jesuit moralist will always be far more attuned than the intuition of a mob of reactionary haters. —Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

moralist

noun

mor·​al·​ist ˈmȯr-ə-ləst 

ˈmär-

1

: a person who leads a moral life

2

: a person who teaches, studies, or points out morals

3

: a person who is concerned with regulating the morals of others