as in puritanism
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters
the moralism that the candidate displays on the campaign trail is seen by some as hypocritical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of moralism
Much of Ian MacKaye’s progressive moralism comes from his Episcopal upbringing.
—
Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
In sport as in war and education, there was a moralism and fundamental masculinity associated with the band ensemble.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2025
Trend forecasters were proclaiming that Trump’s reelection represented a cultural shake-up in addition to a governmental one, replacing the stiff moralism of wokeness with cowboy rowdiness and chic nihilism.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025
Liberal states and activists must tone down their legalism, moralism, and universalism.
—Jack Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for moralism
Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
In sport as in war and education, there was a moralism and fundamental masculinity associated with the band ensemble.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2025
Trend forecasters were proclaiming that Trump’s reelection represented a cultural shake-up in addition to a governmental one, replacing the stiff moralism of wokeness with cowboy rowdiness and chic nihilism.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2025
Liberal states and activists must tone down their legalism, moralism, and universalism.
—Jack Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2022
See All Example Sentences for moralism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moralism
puritanism
Noun
-
The anti-pop animus of classic rock criticism reflected nothing so much as a neurotic puritanism, or maybe just a snobbish inability to hear the deep beauty of pop.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Inevitably, puritanism is going to come out and come back and go away.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Moralism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moralism. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
