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Definition of moralistic

moralistic

/ˌmɔːr.əˈlɪs.tɪk/
mor · al · is · tic
Adverb:moralistically
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moralistic Lexical Profile

moralistic Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Overly concerned with making moral judgments or imposing one's own narrow standards of right and wrong on others; self-righteous or preachy.

Example

"Critics complained that the director's latest drama felt overly moralistic rather than letting the audience draw their own conclusions."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for moralistic
Antonyms
View all antonyms for moralistic

Word Nuance & Usage

Unlike 'moral', which is generally positive or neutral in referring to principles of right and wrong, 'moralistic' almost always carries a pejorative connotation of being overly judgmental, preachy, or self-righteous toward others.

• Rhymes for moralistic

• Nearby Words

moral
morale
moralist
moralistic
morality
moralize
moralizer

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century from 'moralist' plus the adjective suffix '-ic', ultimately tracing back to the Latin 'moralis' ('proper behavior of a person in society'), coined by Cicero from 'mos' ('custom').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Moralistic. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/moralistic
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