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Definition of prudery

prudery

/ˈpruːdəri/
pru · der · y
Adverb:prudishly
•
Plural:pruderies
•
Adjective:prudish
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prudery Lexical Profile

prudery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Excessive or affected modesty, propriety, or squeamishness, especially regarding sexual matters or nudity; an instance of such behavior or attitude.

Example

"The museum's decision to cover the classical statues was widely criticized as an outdated display of prudery."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for prudery

• Nearby Words

prudent
prudential
prudently
prudery
prudish
prudishly
prudishness

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 18th century from French pruderie, derived from prude ('excessively modest woman'), which was a back-formation from prudefemme ('noble or virtuous woman'), from Old French prod ('good, valiant').

Cite this Entry

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