Definition of moralistnext
as in puritan
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters a smattering of moralists around the country tried to get the songs banned from the radio

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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 moralist Carney is a moralist, a filmmaker of fidelity—and of renunciation, depicting the romantic near-misses and what-ifs that his characters leave behind. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 Christian moralists thundered against the sinful pleasures of watching naked female flesh at the Spectacles. Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026 For every cultural good, identity has become fused with the object of interest, turning previously normal people leading unremarkable lives into Steak ’n Shake beef-tallow purists, Harry Potter moralists, or cast-iron-pan-cleaning radicals. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026 Of course, if no viable alternative to Trump’s deportations policy existed, the political reality would be different, and the moralists would have a better argument. Andrew Day, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moralist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moralist
puritan
Noun
  • During and after both wars, puritans used large-scale enslavement of Native peoples to bolster their labor force and help clear land for colonial settlement.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • So this green dress with small spots and an oversized puritan collar was quite appropriate for its time.
    Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Moralist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moralist. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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