puritanical

adjective

pu·​ri·​tan·​i·​cal ˌpyu̇r-ə-ˈta-ni-kəl 

1

: of, relating to, or characterized by a rigid morality

2

: puritan

puritanically

ˌpyu̇r-ə-ˈta-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of puritanical

• Victorian
• prudish

Examples of puritanical in a Sentence

some of the state laws concerning sexual behavior are vestiges of a more puritanical time and are rarely, if ever, enforced

Recent Examples on the Web

Print-media outlets—at least the types of places that can still afford investigative desks—are often sclerotic, quasi-puritanical institutions that discourage their practitioners from too much self-promotion or marketing. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026

As if in refutation of the puritanical outcry over D&D in its early days, Went’s characters use the game to attempt to construct a more just moral universe. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2025

But Strummer always had a puritanical zeal about his punk mission and a terror of getting corrupted by fame. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025

This voyeurism will later be held against Helm during the puritanical trend (big misunderstanding). —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for puritanical

• biomechanical
• thermomechanical
• botanical
• brahmanical
• mechanical
• tyrannical
• electromechanical
• panicle