Definition

Adjective: 1. Excessively strict in manners, morals, or opinions: Describes a person who is very rigid, conventional, and often disapproving of behavior considered improper or unconventional.

Usage

The adjective "straightlaced" is used to describe a person's character or attitude. It carries a connotation of being overly strict, prudish, or old-fashioned. It is typically used in a slightly critical or observational way.

Examples

• His straightlaced parents were shocked by the modern art exhibition.
• The company's straightlaced dress code forbids jeans and sneakers.
• She has a straightlaced reputation, but she's actually quite fun at parties.

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a judgmental attitude towards others who do not conform to the same strict standards.
• It can describe not just people, but also environments, rules, or atmospheres that are characterized by such strictness.
  • The school maintained a straightlaced environment for decades.

Variants and Related Words

• Straight-laced: An alternative, hyphenated spelling of the word.
• Prim (adj.): Very formal and precise in manner and behavior.
• Prudish (adj.): Easily shocked by matters related to sex or nudity.
• Puritanical (adj.): Having very strict moral attitudes, often relating to pleasure.

Synonyms

• Prim
• Prudish
• Puritanical
• Proper
• Stiff
• Uptight

Antonyms

• Liberal
• Permissive
• Broad-minded
• Easygoing
• Unconventional

Related Idioms

• To have a stick up one's back: (Informal idiom) To be very rigid, formal, or unable to relax. This shares a similar meaning with "straightlaced" but is more colloquial and critical.
  • He needs to relax; he acts like he has a stick up his back.

Adjective

1. exaggeratedly proper
   • my straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts