as in fanatic
a person who has very strong ideas about what is correct or acceptable and who usually opposes changes to traditional methods and practices
a new style of play that offended the sport's purists a language purist who is always looking to correct the speech of others
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Recent Examples of purist
Back then, purists grumbled that the modern reinterpretation of the British classic departed from the rough and tumble identity of Defenders past.
—
John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
The angry purists shrieked their response, rattling their Converse sneakers in their fists, to remind everyone that trades and free agents aren’t part of college basketball.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
However, some purists believe that glass mirrors reflect light significantly better.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 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
See All Example Sentences for purist
John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
The angry purists shrieked their response, rattling their Converse sneakers in their fists, to remind everyone that trades and free agents aren’t part of college basketball.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
However, some purists believe that glass mirrors reflect light significantly better.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 3 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
See All Example Sentences for purist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purist
Noun
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The first two seasons of Euphoria delighted fashion fanatics with iconic vintage pieces and other Easter eggs.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
13 Apr. 2026
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The goal of any cinnamon-roll fanatic — getting them pipin’ hot from the oven — is achievable at the new Berkeley outpost.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Nossiter said Guinea is also sensitive to the possibility that the pilots’ case could get amplified publicly by anti-Western nationalists in the country who might frame it as a sovereignty violation at a moment when Conakry is already wary of internal dissent.—
Adrian Elimian,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
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The Treaty of Trianon looms large in the imagination of Hungarian nationalists.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purist. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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