moralizing
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The act of expressing judgments about what is right and wrong, especially in a way that is intended to instruct or criticize others. It refers to the practice of making moral pronouncements, often in a self-righteous, tedious, or superficial manner.
Usage
- The word moralizing is used to describe speech or writing that focuses on delivering a moral lesson. It often carries a negative connotation, implying the speaker is being overly preachy, judgmental, or simplistic in their exposition of right and wrong.
- It functions as a noun (gerund) and is typically used in a critical context.
Examples
- Noun:
- I grew tired of his endless moralizing about how young people behave.
- The novel avoids heavy-handed moralizing and instead presents the characters' dilemmas realistically.
- Her speech was less a call to action and more an exercise in moralizing.
Advanced Usage
- "To be given to moralizing": Describes a person who frequently makes moral judgments.
- He is a writer given to moralizing, which can make his essays feel tedious.
- The term can be applied to various forms of communication, such as literature, speeches, or casual conversation, when they are perceived as being overly didactic.
Variants and Related Words
- Moralize (verb): To comment on moral issues, especially in a self-righteous way.
- He tends to moralize about politics.
- Moralistic (adjective): Characterized by or displaying a narrow and conventional concern with morality.
- She rejected the moralistic tone of the article.
- Moralizer (noun): A person who moralizes.
Synonyms
- Preaching
- Sermonizing
- Pontificating
- Lecturing (in a moral context)
Antonyms
- Amoral commentary
- Non-judgmental description
Noun
- indulgence in moral pronouncements; the exposition (often superficially) of a particular moral code
- his constant moralizing drove me mad