primness

/'primnis/
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primness

A woman's primness is evident in her perfectly buttoned blouse and rigid posture.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Exaggerated and arrogant properness: The quality of being excessively or unnaturally formal, precise, or proper in manner, dress, or behavior, often with a sense of self-righteousness or superiority.
    • Excessive or affected modesty: An overdone or insincere display of modesty, prudishness, or reserve.
Usage
  • Primness is an uncountable noun used to describe a person's character or demeanor. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the behavior is not genuine but is instead a showy or rigid affectation.
  • It is often used to criticize someone for being overly fussy, strait-laced, or priggish.
Examples
  • Her constant primness, from her perfectly buttoned blouse to her disdain for casual conversation, made her seem unapproachable.
  • The primness of his manners was so exaggerated that it felt more like a performance than genuine politeness.
  • The novel satirizes the primness of Victorian society, highlighting its repressed and hypocritical nature.
Advanced Usage
  • "with primness": Used adverbially to describe an action done in a prim manner.
    • She adjusted her glasses with primness before delivering her critique.
Variants and Related Words
  • Prim (adjective): Affectedly dainty, precise, or formal.
    • She gave a prim smile.
  • Primly (adverb): In a prim manner.
    • She sat primly on the edge of the chair.
Synonyms
  • Prudishness: Excessive propriety or modesty in speech, conduct, or dress.
  • Stiffness: Rigid formality in manner or style.
  • Prissiness: Excessive concern with being neat, proper, or modest.
  • Strait-lacedness: Being very strict or severe in moral or religious matters.
Antonyms
  • Informality: Relaxed, casual manner without ceremony or formality.
  • Unpretentiousness: Not attempting to impress others with an appearance of greater importance or merit than is actually possessed.
primness

A woman's primness is evident in her perfectly buttoned blouse and rigid posture.

Noun
  1. exaggerated and arrogant properness
  2. excessive or affected modesty

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