moralist

noun

mor·​al·​ist ˈmȯr-ə-list 

ˈmär-

1

: one who leads a moral life

2

: a philosopher or writer concerned with moral principles and problems

3

: one concerned with regulating the morals of others

Synonyms

• bluenose
• Mrs. Grundy
• nice nelly
• prude
• puritan
• wowser [chiefly Australian]

Examples of moralist in a Sentence

a smattering of moralists around the country tried to get the songs banned from the radio

Recent Examples on the Web

Satirists are famously also moralists, and Houellebecq is no exception. —Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024

Lewis is, in other words, a moralist who has dedicated his career to an exploration of pragmatism. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2023

My father was the publisher of Penthouse, the most successful and outrageous and probably most controversial magazine of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and a lightning rod for moralists who perpetually sought its destruction. —Bob Guccione Jr, Spin, 20 Sep. 2023

The old moralists understood the dangers of insisting on the repayment of unpayable debts. —Martin Sandbu, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

moralist

noun

mor·​al·​ist ˈmȯr-ə-ləst 

ˈmär-

1

: a person who leads a moral life

2

: a person who teaches, studies, or points out morals

3

: a person who is concerned with regulating the morals of others