as in Victorian
given to or marked by very conservative standards regarding personal behavior or morals
some of the state laws concerning sexual behavior are vestiges of a more puritanical time and are rarely, if ever, enforced
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Recent Examples of puritanical
Salman seems more inclined than his predecessor to appease the ultraconservative and puritanical Wahhabi clerical establishment and other conservative Islamist forces in the country.
—
Richard Sokolsky, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2016
If, instead, the election is close, existing trends will likely bring out the worst in America—our puritanical righteousness and tribalism.
—Chris Jackson, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
In voiceover, Ai fondly recalls her own uncles and aunts sneaking out to clubs at night, partying all weekend, clashing with their elders and the more puritanical past generations stunned by the appropriation of sexier dress, style, and musical verve.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2024
In this version, religious zealots—some imported, and some homegrown—are trying to impose a puritanical form of religious law on society.
—Daniel Corstange, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2016
See all Example Sentences for puritanical 
Richard Sokolsky, Foreign Affairs, 6 Jan. 2016
If, instead, the election is close, existing trends will likely bring out the worst in America—our puritanical righteousness and tribalism.
—Chris Jackson, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
In voiceover, Ai fondly recalls her own uncles and aunts sneaking out to clubs at night, partying all weekend, clashing with their elders and the more puritanical past generations stunned by the appropriation of sexier dress, style, and musical verve.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Oct. 2024
In this version, religious zealots—some imported, and some homegrown—are trying to impose a puritanical form of religious law on society.
—Daniel Corstange, Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2016
See all Example Sentences for puritanical
Thesaurus Entries Near puritanical
Cite this Entry
“Puritanical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puritanical. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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