adj
puritanical
pyoorr-ih-TAN-ih-kuhl
adj
1
Excessively strict about morality, especially regarding pleasure, sex, or entertainment.
"The school's puritanical dress code banned even mild makeup."
"Critics called the censorship puritanical and outdated."
How to Use Puritanical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOverly strict or disapproving about morals and pleasure, often used critically.
When to use it
Almost always used disapprovingly, implying the strictness is excessive or old-fashioned.
Common pairings
puritanical attitude
puritanical rules
Word Forms
more puritanical comparative, puritanicals plural, most puritanical superlative
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The school's _____ dress code banned even mild makeup.
Etymology
From puritanic (relating to the Puritans) plus the adjective suffix -al.