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
The Type 00 gave Jaguar loads of new identity—being large, distinctive-looking, and very pink—but that identity wasn’t a universal hit with the purists, which is probably why Jaguar persisted anyway.
—
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
As much as purists may loathe it, NCAA Tournament expansion is, as Jamie Dixon said, inevitable.
—Mac Engel
march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
Look away, Nordic sauna purists.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Plus, the Wolverines genuinely like each other and play an unselfish brand of basketball that purists can appreciate.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Sez Me … The NBA has been weaponized, now meant to inflict harm on the eyes of purists.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Midcentury purists will rejoice in this true vintage FBJ Mobler piece, made from teak in a classic Danish silhouette.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 18 Feb. 2026
For the literary purists out there, this might be the most faithful adaptation of them all.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
As much as purists may loathe it, NCAA Tournament expansion is, as Jamie Dixon said, inevitable.
—Mac Engel
march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
Look away, Nordic sauna purists.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Plus, the Wolverines genuinely like each other and play an unselfish brand of basketball that purists can appreciate.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Most everyone in attendance at 2220 seemed to be there to meet or support one of their favorite artists, one of the devout purists of our time who manages to remain that without getting smug, lazy or feral, all common pitfalls.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Sez Me … The NBA has been weaponized, now meant to inflict harm on the eyes of purists.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Midcentury purists will rejoice in this true vintage FBJ Mobler piece, made from teak in a classic Danish silhouette.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 18 Feb. 2026
For the literary purists out there, this might be the most faithful adaptation of them all.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purists
Noun
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If so, that advice was not followed by the pro-Khamenei fanatics who turned out thousands of Iranians to support their new leader, who could be taken out like his father was.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Pollen season is more than a nuisance for clean-car fanatics.—
Nancy Badertscher,
AJC.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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From late Qing reformers inspired by Athenian citizenship to nationalists who draw on Plato to bolster China’s political ideology, Bartsch shows how supple ancient texts are in the hands of interpreters.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
For one, Pashtun nationalists will always have problems with a border that slices their heartland in two.—
Mihir Sharma,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purists.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purists. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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