as in fanatics
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 purists
It was roundly attacked by film purists and thankfully never had much success.
—
Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Some include fruit that purists might not approve of, but that should be tried.
—Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
That song’s twangful snarl — wonderfully sung by Clark, a star recording artist in her own right — is a reminder that these insurgents are also preservationists, capable of delivering old-fashioned pleasures to please the purists.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
But purists have seen the sport change as prize money has soared.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Securing this level of acoustic engineering for 42% off is a massive win for purists and casual listeners alike.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
This subtle dose of animal print might convince even the solid-manicure purists to embrace their wild side.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
This created a direct clash with golf purists — as parodied in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 — resulting in the PGA suspending golfers participating in LIV.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
This turn toward a high-end consumer market — which reflects a broader trend among many retailers to cater to the affluent — hasn’t been without its critics, especially from music purists who view the festival as overly commercial.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Josef Adalian, Vulture, 7 May 2026
Some include fruit that purists might not approve of, but that should be tried.
—Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
That song’s twangful snarl — wonderfully sung by Clark, a star recording artist in her own right — is a reminder that these insurgents are also preservationists, capable of delivering old-fashioned pleasures to please the purists.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
But purists have seen the sport change as prize money has soared.
—Sharyn Alfonsi, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Securing this level of acoustic engineering for 42% off is a massive win for purists and casual listeners alike.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
This subtle dose of animal print might convince even the solid-manicure purists to embrace their wild side.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
This created a direct clash with golf purists — as parodied in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 — resulting in the PGA suspending golfers participating in LIV.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
This turn toward a high-end consumer market — which reflects a broader trend among many retailers to cater to the affluent — hasn’t been without its critics, especially from music purists who view the festival as overly commercial.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purists
Noun
-
In regards to the Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reteam exceeding $80M+, the pic really needs the date crowd, Prada fanatics, and ladies night to make a trail toward multiplexes.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
-
In 2025, the eatery was voted among the Top 50 sports bar in Charlotte, cementing itself as a go-to spot for sports fanatics, CharlotteFive previously reported.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The once-dominant Labour and Conservative parties were losing votes to Reform, to the left-wing Green Party at the other end of the political spectrum, and to the nationalists in Scotland and Wales.—
Andrew MacAskill,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Reform also is eyeing breakthroughs in Scotland and Wales, though pro-independence nationalists the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru are likely to form governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purists. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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