Bible-thumper

[ bahy-buhl-thuhm-per ]

noun

, Informal.

1. an evangelist or other person who quotes the Bible frequently, especially as a means of exhortation or rebuke.

Bible-thumper

noun

1. slang.
   an enthusiastic or aggressive exponent of the Bible Also calledBible-basherBible-pounderBible-puncher

Derived Forms

• ˈBible-ˌthumping, nounadjective

Other Words From

• Bible-thumping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Bible-thumper¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

No longer just a “wing-nut Bible thumper,” he’s a man of courage!

From Washington Post

But he’s also cheerful and unstuffy, coming off as more Boy Scout than Bible thumper.

From Washington Post

Then they put Rondell in my room, and even though he was straight special ed and a Bible thumper, he at least got me talking some—which was probably why I had his back now.

From Literature

Gill didn’t grow up in the church, but he thinks most people assume him to be “a Bible thumper” because of his wife.

From Seattle Times

Russo, conversely, writes a Southern-fried story of acceptance that, though different from her own — she transitioned in her twenties — usually goes untold: even the Bible thumpers are nice and there’s nothing that makes a YA reader become a romance reader down the line like a nice Bible thumper, y’all.

From Salon

Related Words

• bishop
• chaplain
• cleric
• evangelist
• missionary
• pastor
• pontiff
• preacher
• priest
• rabbi