Definition and pronunciation
prudery /ˈpruːdəri/ — noun: an attitude of extreme modesty or propriety, especially about sexual matters, where one avoids or disapproves of anything considered indecent.
Easy explanation
If someone shows prudery, it means they act shocked, embarrassed, or overly proper about sex, nudity, or anything not “polite.” It’s like being excessively modest or easily scandalized by things others find normal.
Grammatical formation
- Noun: prudery.
- Adjective: prudish.
- Adverb: prudishly.
- Related noun: prude (a person who shows prudery).
Meanings and nuances
- Sexual modesty — avoiding or rejecting sexual talk, nudity, or openness.
- Moral conservatism — acting as though ordinary freedoms are improper.
- Negative connotation — often used mockingly to describe someone as overly uptight.
With prepositions and variants
- prudery about sex/intimacy: “Her prudery about relationships was noticeable.”
- show prudery in manners or clothing.
Common collocations
sexual prudery, false prudery, excessive prudery, prudery about nudity, Victorian prudery, cultural prudery
Idioms and neighboring expressions
- “moral squeamishness” — discomfort with sexual or improper topics
- “holier-than-thou” — overly moralizing attitude
- “prim and proper” — overly proper and modest
Word comparisons
- prudery vs modesty: modesty = balanced humility; prudery = extreme, rigid modesty.
- prudery vs chastity: chastity = abstinence from sex; prudery = exaggerated reaction against sexual openness.
- prudery vs prudishness: prudery = the quality; prudishness = synonym (used interchangeably).
Real-life examples
- “Victorian prudery censored many books and plays.”
- “Her prudery about kissing scenes seemed old-fashioned.”
- “Cultural prudery often silences sexual education.”
- “They laughed at his prudery when he blushed at a joke.”
- “Prudery in media restricts realistic conversations about sex.”
Sample sentences
- “The movie challenged the prudery of its time.”
- “Her prudery made her avoid romantic comedies.”
- “Prudery often hides behind false morality.”
- “Victorian prudery shaped strict social codes.”
- “He was teased for his prudery about dancing.”
- “Prudery in schools prevents honest sexual education.”
- “Her prudery contrasted with his open attitude.”
- “They accused the censorship board of prudery.”
- “False prudery is often used to shame others.”
- “Cultural prudery varies across societies.”
Synonyms
prudishness, modesty (excessive), puritanism, moralism, squeamishness, propriety, strait-laced behavior
Antonyms
liberality, open-mindedness, permissiveness, tolerance, free-spiritedness, broad-mindedness
Related terms
prude, prudish, puritanical, modesty, censorship, propriety, repression
Connection to sexuality
Yes. Prudery is directly connected to sexuality, as it specifically describes an exaggerated avoidance or condemnation of sexual talk, nudity, or intimacy. The term is often used to criticize cultures, individuals, or laws that impose overly strict sexual norms.
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