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
Although Disney promised to approach that aspect of the story with greater sensitivity, purists can rest assured that the director Marc Webb and the screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson have seen fit to keep Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, and Dopey in the picture.
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
With a discography that wowed both purists and mainstream audiences, Biggie was one of the most defining artists of ‘90’s hip-hop and a central figure in New York’s rap scene.
—Shirley Halperin For The Hollywood Reporter, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2025
Beyond mixing, their higher age statements still appeal to the Scotch purist in me who just wants to sit back and sip.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
In Kenya, like in India, roti is interchangeable with chapati (though purists will argue that rotis contain no oil or fat in the dough while a chapati might).
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purist
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
With a discography that wowed both purists and mainstream audiences, Biggie was one of the most defining artists of ‘90’s hip-hop and a central figure in New York’s rap scene.
—Shirley Halperin For The Hollywood Reporter, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2025
Beyond mixing, their higher age statements still appeal to the Scotch purist in me who just wants to sit back and sip.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
In Kenya, like in India, roti is interchangeable with chapati (though purists will argue that rotis contain no oil or fat in the dough while a chapati might).
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for purist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purist
Noun
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Plenty of Phish-heads may be annoying, but so are plenty of Deadheads, metalheads, hip-hop heads, yacht-rock ironists, Springsteen fanatics.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
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An old pal of mine — a Dodgers fanatic who adores Monfort the way Bugs Bunny adored Elmer Fudd — likes to joke that there are only two types of Rockies fans left at Coors Field by the All-Star break: Barely alive or barely sober.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Sectarian clashes erupted in the central city of Nagpur last month, with hardline Hindu nationalists calling for the demolition of his tomb, which is about 400 kilometers away.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
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Musk continues to be one of the most consequential people in government, and Bannon and other nationalists continue to hold sway over a White House that is cracking down on immigrants.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Purist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purist. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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