puritanical

[ pyoo r-i-tan-i-kuh l ]
/ ˌpyʊər ɪˈtæn ɪ kəl /

adjective

very strict in moral or religious matters, often excessively so; rigidly austere.
(sometimes initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Puritans or Puritanism.
Often pu·ri·tan·ic.

Origin of puritanical

First recorded in 1600–10; Puritan + -ical

OTHER WORDS FROM puritanical

Example sentences from the Web for puritanical

British Dictionary definitions for puritanical

puritanical

less commonly puritanic

/ (ˌpjʊərɪˈtænɪkəl) /

adjective

usually derogatory strict in moral or religious outlook, esp in shunning sensual pleasures
(sometimes capital) of or relating to a puritan or the Puritans

Derived forms of puritanical

puritanically, adverb puritanicalness, noun