as in puritan
a person who is greatly concerned with seemly behavior and morality especially regarding sexual matters
wowsers would be well-advised to avoid that steamy new show on TV
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Recent Examples of wowser
Then Bowser gets big again and reunites with his son, and the two agree to rule the universe together (or something), but somehow two Bowsers add up to less of a wowser than one.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Now, a wowser is commonly someone who looks to crack down on enjoyment.
—Michelle Elias, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2020
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
Now, a wowser is commonly someone who looks to crack down on enjoyment.
—Michelle Elias, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wowser
puritan
Noun
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However, rather than blithely dismiss the consequences of legalization with eye-rolling contempt for the puritans, supporters should confront the adverse societal effects of cannabis — the pervasive urban stench, the traffic deaths and the pernicious effects on youth.—
Cory Franklin,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
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Austere antiquity is in constant conflict with more sensual, modern impulses — a tension that feels productive applied to a story of the Shakers, puritans whom time has proven too pure for this world.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wowser.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wowser. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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