prudishness

as in puritanism
a tendency to care a great deal about seemly behavior and morals especially in sexual matters the prudishness of the people of the Victorian era was a hindrance to the dissemination of some basic information on human health and hygiene

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prudishness
Noun
  • Puritanism is now expressing itself tragically in those who were subject to puritanism, the youth.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Inevitably, puritanism is going to come out and come back and go away.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Liberal states and activists must tone down their legalism, moralism, and universalism.
    Jack Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2022
  • Avoiding the hard sell will require that liberal states and activists tone down their legalism, moralism, and universalism.
    Jack Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2022
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Cite this Entry

“Prudishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prudishness. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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