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
To rebuild a consensus, politicians must thus appeal to these swing voters by eschewing moralistic and globalist rhetoric.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The sanitized relationships and moralistic comeuppances that characterize classic-Hollywood movies falsified private life in their own time and enduringly distort the past; a tale such as Crawford’s should dispel nostalgia for bygone days and the myth of their orderly decorum.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2025
Taken together, these triumphal and tragic elements constitute the ingredients for an epic historical narrative that defies all moralistic categories, a story rooted in the coexistence of grandeur and failure, brilliance and blindness, grace and sin.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Initially, bedtime stories tended to be moralistic tales designed to reinforce obedience and proper behavior.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moralistic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The sanitized relationships and moralistic comeuppances that characterize classic-Hollywood movies falsified private life in their own time and enduringly distort the past; a tale such as Crawford’s should dispel nostalgia for bygone days and the myth of their orderly decorum.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 18 Nov. 2025
Taken together, these triumphal and tragic elements constitute the ingredients for an epic historical narrative that defies all moralistic categories, a story rooted in the coexistence of grandeur and failure, brilliance and blindness, grace and sin.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Initially, bedtime stories tended to be moralistic tales designed to reinforce obedience and proper behavior.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moralistic
Cite this Entry
“Moralistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moralistic. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share