prudery

[ proo-duh-ree ]

noun

, plural prud·er·ies

1. excessive propriety or modesty in speech, conduct, etc.
2. pruderies, prudish actions, phrases, or words.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prudery¹

From the French word pruderie, dating back to 1700–10. See prude, -ery

Example Sentences

But when you strip away the social conventions from which a show’s crisis develops — prudery, repression, outerwear, what have you — you leave the action unmotivated and unmoored.

From New York Times

The case, however, made Comstock’s name synonymous with “prudery, Puritanism and officious meddling,” according to Broun and Leech.

From Los Angeles Times

The Christian right are the villains in "Footloose" and American attitudes towards the prudery caucus haven't grown any warmer since then.

From Salon

DeSantis, with his "don't say gay" law and pro-censorship stance, just tips too far into the prudery camp to keep those voters from fading away.

From Salon

The abortion issue doesn't just unify the Democratic base, it creates a wedge between the fundamentalists and the rest of the GOP base that isn't nearly so keen on the politics of prudery.

From Salon

Related Words

• decency
• humility
• propriety
• purity
• reticence
• simplicity
• virtue