moralistic
adjective
mor·al·is·tic
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈli-stik 
ˌmär-
1
: characterized by or expressive of a concern with morality
… pounding out moralistic claims about what is wrong with the world …—
Robert Jackall et al.
Robert Jackall et al.2
: characterized by or expressive of a narrow moral attitude
Examples of moralistic in a Sentence
While a moralistic speech won't convince kids not to try drugs, a story about people affected by drugs might.
parental opinion was divided on the school's moralistic curriculum
Recent Examples on the Web
Good intentions — and handsome animation — aside, Forevergreen is ultimately too maudlin and moralistic to rank it much higher than this.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
The script, penned by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, becomes bizarrely moralistic by the end, insinuating that the debased and debauched might perhaps see their problems solved by becoming domesticated.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
Similarly moralistic monikers were used in the war in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and the 2003 invasion of Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
The United States went to war in 2001 and 2003 with a very moralistic, very crusading view of war, a very black-and-white view that there were good guys and bad guys, and America would wield the swift sword of justice.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
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Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026
The script, penned by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, becomes bizarrely moralistic by the end, insinuating that the debased and debauched might perhaps see their problems solved by becoming domesticated.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2026
Similarly moralistic monikers were used in the war in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) and the 2003 invasion of Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom).
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
The United States went to war in 2001 and 2003 with a very moralistic, very crusading view of war, a very black-and-white view that there were good guys and bad guys, and America would wield the swift sword of justice.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moralistic
Cite this Entry
“Moralistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moralistic. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moralistic
adjective
mor·al·is·tic
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈlis-tik
ˌmär-
1
: teaching or pointing out morals
a moralistic story
2
: having or expressing a conservative moral attitude
a moralistic attitude toward the problems of youth
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