straitlaced

adjective

strait·​laced ˈstrāt-ˈlāst How to pronounce straitlaced (audio)
variants or straightlaced
1
: excessively strict in manners, morals, or opinion
2
: wearing or having a bodice or stays tightly laced
straitlacedly adverb
straitlacedness
ˈstrāt-ˈlās(t)-nəs
-ˈlā-səd-nəs How to pronounce straitlaced (audio)
noun

Examples of straitlaced in a Sentence

a very straitlaced old lady who believed that cleavage was something that should be shown by rock crystals, not respectable women
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Even television, though, began to feel straitlaced. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2024 Doherty, then 19, became a superstar in the early ’90s playing the straitlaced but short-tempered Brenda Walsh as the show became a guilty pleasure for a generation. Ethan Sacks, NBC News, 14 July 2024 These misfit progeny get a shot at redemption, far from their nefarious parents, and attend a straitlaced boarding school teeming with the children of Disney sweethearts. Ew Staff, EW.com, 1 July 2024 This timeless comedic tandem — where Lucy's zany antics collided with Ricky's straitlaced demeanor — kept generations in stitches for a remarkable 180 episodes. James Mercadante and Johnny Loftus, EW.com, 22 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for straitlaced 

Word History

First Known Use

1554, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of straitlaced was in 1554

Dictionary Entries Near straitlaced

Cite this Entry

“Straitlaced.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straitlaced. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

straitlaced

adjective
strait·​laced
variants or straightlaced
: very strict or proper in actions, beliefs, or point of view

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