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View synonyms for doctrinaire

doctrinaire

[ dok-truh-nair ]

noun

  1. a person who tries to apply some doctrine or theory without sufficient regard for practical considerations; an impractical theorist.


adjective

  1. dogmatic about others' acceptance of one's ideas; fanatical:

    a doctrinaire preacher.

    Synonyms: unyielding, inflexible, uncompromising, authoritarian

    Antonyms: flexible, reasonable

  2. merely theoretical; impractical.
  3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a doctrinaire.

doctrinaire

/ ˌdɒktrɪˈnɛə /

adjective

  1. stubbornly insistent on the observation of the niceties of a theory, esp without regard to practicality, suitability, etc
  2. theoretical; impractical
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a person who stubbornly attempts to apply a theory without regard to practical difficulties
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˌdoctriˈnarian, noun
  • ˌdoctriˈnairism, noun
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Other Words From

  • doctri·nairism noun
  • nondoc·tri·naire adjective
  • over·doctri·naire adjective
  • un·doctri·naire adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of doctrinaire1

From French, dating back to 1810–20; doctrine, -aire
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Example Sentences

“Where Eve once seemed wild and inspired to Joan,” writes Anolik, “she now seemed slack and slothful. Where Joan once seemed meticulous and masterly to Eve, she now seemed dogged and doctrinaire.”

As she put together the program this summer, with the presidential campaign going through head-snapping gyrations, Huntsinger says the political theme emerged organically rather than out of any doctrinaire impulse.

I’ve just spent a week tramping across Venice, a city of more than 250 churches, and where did I encounter the most doctrinaire catechism?

But the idea is first stolen by one of her colleagues, then shot down by another as insufficiently doctrinaire.

To some he was an unholy terror, relentless in his doctrinaire socialism and disconcertingly fond of violent theatrical effects.

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