moralize

verb

mor·​al·​ize ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 

ˈmär-

moralized; moralizing

transitive verb

1

: to explain or interpret morally

2

a

: to give a moral quality or direction to

b

: to improve the morals of

intransitive verb

usually disapproving : to express beliefs and opinions about moral behavior

moralizing judgments/statements

moralization

ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌmär-

noun

moralizer

ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈmär-

noun

Examples of moralize in a Sentence

an essay moralizing about the evils of alcohol

Recent Examples on the Web

The good guy, the bad guy, the place to sit and reside, to feel right or wrong or righteous or moralized and she's left us quite naked with an incredibly complex detailed topic. —H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025

One Battle After Another is not sappy or moralizing in that sentiment. —Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025

Men’s decisions, by contrast, are very rarely moralized in the same way. —Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025

The Internet should not be a sanitized corporate theme park where everything is monetized and moralized. —Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for moralize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

moralize

verb

mor·​al·​ize ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 

ˈmär-

moralized; moralizing

1

: to explain in a moral sense : draw a moral from

2

: to make moral or morally better

3

: to make moral comments

moralization

ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌmär-

noun

moralizer

ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈmär-

noun