Definition of perfectionism
1a : the doctrine that the perfection of moral character constitutes a person's highest goodb : the theological doctrine that a state of freedom from sin is attainable on earth
2 : a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of perfectionism from the Web
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Also on display: his perfectionism, curious eye and innate classicizing style.
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What many do not know is what brought them together: perfectionism. .
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The plague of perfectionism on parenting blogs is rancid.
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The new Pepper may be motivated less by money than by something else Emerick mentions: McCartney’s perfectionism.
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Watching the film, I was struck by Tower’s elegance and vulnerability, his genius and the pure relentlessness of his perfectionism.
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Don’t get bogged down by perfectionismThere is a common misperception that all organized people are perfectionists.
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Are the merciless standards of perfectionism just waiting to clamp down?
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They are often racked with anxiety, depression, and fear, and in one 2014 paper published in the Review of General Psychology, researchers suggested that perfectionism may be a risk factor for suicide.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'perfectionism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of perfectionism
1835
Medical Dictionary
perfectionism
playMedical Definition of perfectionism
: a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable; especially : the setting of unrealistically demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness
Learn More about perfectionism
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See words that rhyme with perfectionism Britannica English: Translation of perfectionism for Arabic speakers
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