puritanism

nounausterity

Word Origin & History

1570s, from Puritan + -ism. Originally in reference to specific doctrines; from 1590s of excessive moral strictness generally. In this sense, famously defined by H.L. Mencken (1920) as "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy."

Example Sentences for puritanism

These men mean that Puritanism shall be rooted out of England.

Not even his Puritanism could enjoy an unlimited diet of oratorio.

However, the Puritanism of his ancestors stood him in good stead.

It remembers the hardness of Puritanism, and has no admiration for its virtues.

In his combat with humanistic purism he foreshadows a Christian puritanism.

Certainly Euphues does not prove that Puritanism was latent in him.

Slavery drove the whole Puritan community back on its Puritanism.

It involved the surrender of a long-settled principle of Puritanism.

Puritanism may be said to have proved, in England, a signal failure.

The villages of New England—the foci of blue laws and Puritanism.

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Synonyms for puritanism

noun austerity

More words related to puritanism

austerity

noun. refraining; abstinence

priggishness

noun. prudishness

puritanism

Synonyms for puritanism

More words related to puritanism

.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}austerity

priggishness

austerity