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.

Noun

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