goody-goody

American  

[good-ee-good-ee] / ˈgʊd iˈgʊd i /

noun

plural

goody-goodies

1. a person who is self-righteously, affectedly, or cloyingly good.

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adjective

1. self-righteously or cloyingly good; affecting goodness.

goody-goody British  

noun

1. a smugly virtuous or sanctimonious person

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adjective

1. smug and sanctimonious

Etymology

Origin of goody-goody

First recorded in 1870–75; reduplication of goody ²

Example Sentences

Olivia Newton-John was this goody-goody girl, and all of a sudden she comes on with these tight black pants.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2023

“I’ve been fighting that goody-goody stuff for years, because if you let people make you out to be perfect there just ain’t no margin for error,” he told his children.

From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2021

“Sturdy” was the word he returned to, even though the Tallahassee boy looked soft, conducted himself like a goody-goody, and had an irritating tendency to preach.

From The New Yorker • Mar. 25, 2019

A: She told her editor on that book, “I’m tired of writing about goody-goody creatures.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 15, 2016

And I had learned an important lesson: If you were going to survive in jail, the goody-goody stuff had to go.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• boy scout
• goody two-shoes