moralization

Thân thiện

She offered a gentle moralization about the importance of honesty.

Definition

Noun: 1. The act of making something moral or more moral: The process of introducing or emphasizing moral principles in something. 2. The act of expressing moral judgments or pronouncements, often in a self-righteous or superficial way: The practice of commenting on issues with a focus on right and wrong, typically in a manner perceived as excessive or tedious.

Examples of Usage

• Sense 1 (Making something moral):
  • The novel's adaptation involved a significant moralization of the main character's actions.
  • Historians debate the moralization of political discourse during that era.
• Sense 2 (Making moral pronouncements):
  • His endless moralization about modern music made the conversation unbearable.
  • The article was criticized for its heavy-handed moralization rather than objective analysis.

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a neutral or positive connotation when referring to the first sense (e.g., the moralization of a law). However, it frequently has a negative or critical connotation when referring to the second sense, implying that the moral judgments are unwelcome, simplistic, or self-righteous.

Variants and Related Words

• Moralize (verb): To comment on moral issues, especially in a judgmental way; to make something moral.
  • He has a tendency to moralize about every small decision.
• Moralistic (adjective): Characterized by the practice of making moral judgments about others' behavior.
  • She rejected the moralistic tone of the criticism.

Synonyms

• For Sense 1: Ethicalization, sanctification.
• For Sense 2: Preaching, sermonizing, moralizing, pontification.

Related Phrases

• To engage in moralization: To actively make moral judgments or pronouncements.
  • The talk show host is known for engaging in political moralization.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of making moral (or more moral)
   • for years she worked toward the moralization of English literature
2. indulgence in moral pronouncements; the exposition (often superficially) of a particular moral code
   • his constant moralizing drove me mad

Từ đồng nghĩa

• moralisation
• moralizing