priggishness
/'prigiʃnis/
Definition
Noun: - Exaggerated and arrogant properness: The quality or state of being priggish; characterized by a self-righteous, smug, and overly rigid adherence to perceived rules of propriety, often accompanied by a condescending attitude toward others.
Usage
- General Use: Used to describe a person's annoying or offensive characteristic of being overly concerned with formal correctness, especially in a way that shows one believes oneself to be superior.
- His constant priggishness about table manners made dinner uncomfortable for everyone.
- The novel satirizes the priggishness of the upper classes.
Advanced Usage
- In Social Commentary: Often used in critiques of moral, social, or intellectual elitism.
- The politician's priggishness on matters of "traditional values" alienated younger voters.
- As an Abstract Quality: Can refer to the quality itself, not just a personal trait.
- The play explores the conflict between genuine virtue and mere priggishness.
Variants and Related Words
- Priggish (adj): Having the qualities of a prig; self-righteously correct and superior.
- She dismissed his criticism as priggish moralizing.
- Prig (n): A person who is smugly self-righteous and overly concerned with propriety.
- He was considered a prig for lecturing his friends on their spending habits.
Synonyms
- Self-righteousness: The quality of being confident in one's own righteousness, especially when smugly moralistic.
- Sanctimoniousness: The feigning of piety or righteousness; hypocritical devoutness.
- Primness: Formality and stiffness of manner or behavior, often excessive.
- Stuffiness: Dull and conventional respectability.
Antonyms
- Modesty: The quality of being unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities.
- Humility: A modest view of one's own importance.
- Informality: Relaxed, friendly, or unofficial style or manner.
Idioms and Phrases
- Holier-than-thou attitude: An idiom closely related to priggishness, describing a smugly pious or morally superior stance.
- Her priggishness often came across as a holier-than-thou attitude that few could tolerate.
Noun
-
exaggerated and arrogant properness
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