moralists
Virtue's self-appointed guardians
Moralists are people who express or promote strong views about right and wrong conduct.
The term can be neutral, describing those who study or write about ethics: the great moralists of the Enlightenment.
But it often carries a negative edge, suggesting someone who judges others harshly or lectures on proper behavior: The moralists were quick to condemn her choices.
Feigning moral superiority
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
puritanical · prudish · condemning · finger-wagging · moralizing · reproachful · disapproving · sermonizing
Asserting opinions as facts
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
unyielding · austere · orthodox · absolutist · hardliner · fundamentalist · unbending · black-and-white
Having strong moral beliefs
- righteousMorally good, justified
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- honorableHaving high moral standards
- scrupulousThorough and principled
conscientious · incorruptible · high-minded · noble · exemplary · irreproachable · paragon · saint
Analyst of healthcare morality
- casuistSpecious moral reasoner
- consequentialistEthics based on outcomes
Zealous advocate for change
- campaignerOne who advocates publicly
- abolitionistOpponent of human bondage
- prohibitionistAdvocate against legal alcohol
- watchdogGuard or monitor
sanctimonious
Feigning moral superiority
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
censorious · puritanical · prudish · condemning · finger-wagging · moralizing · reproachful · disapproving · sermonizing · pontificating
dogmatic
Asserting opinions as facts
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- sternStrict or ship's aft
strict · unyielding · austere · orthodox · absolutist · hardliner · fundamentalist · unbending · black-and-white · zealous
principled
Having strong moral beliefs
- righteousMorally good, justified
- uprightVertical or morally sound
- honorableHaving high moral standards
scrupulous · conscientious · incorruptible · high-minded · noble · exemplary · irreproachable · paragon · saint · straight-arrow
bioethicist
Analyst of healthcare morality
- casuistSpecious moral reasoner
- consequentialistEthics based on outcomes
crusader
Zealous advocate for change
- campaignerOne who advocates publicly
- abolitionistOpponent of human bondage
- prohibitionistAdvocate against legal alcohol
watchdog · censor · puritan · Victorian · bluenose · Comstock
- dissentersdissenter, dissenters, dissidents, dissident, nonconformists
- opinion makerspundits, commentators, columnists, editorialists, op-ed writers
- Quixote ThemesDon Quixote, Sancho Panza, Cervantes, idealism, madness
- reformersreformers, reformer, social reformers, social reformer, political reformer
- reproversrebukers, reproachers, upbraiders, chastisers, admonishers
- French PhilosophyDescartes, Rene Descartes, Pascal, Blaise Pascal, Voltaire
moralistslibertines
Morally dissolute individuals
hedonists · sybarites · sensualists · free spirits · debauchees
moralistspragmatists
Those valuing practical results
realists · descriptivists · consequentialists · utilitarians · cynics
moralistshedonists
Pursuers of sensual delight
epicureans · sybarites · bon vivants · pleasure-seekers · sensualists
- moralistic toneSelf-righteous manner of speaking