priggish
Annoyingly self-righteous
Priggish describes someone smugly self-righteous about their own correctness or moral superiority.
A priggish person makes a show of propriety and looks down on those who fail to meet their standards: His priggish insistence on proper grammar made him insufferable at parties.
The word carries strong disapproval—priggishness is never admired.
Feigning moral superiority
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- moralisticProne to lecturing others
- sermonizingLecturing on morals
pharisaical · pietistic · goody-goody · unctuous · pontificating · lecturing · finger-wagging · moralizing
Excessively concerned with propriety
- strait-lacedExcessively proper and strict
- primAffectedly proper and stiff
- properSocially appropriate
- stiffNot easily bent
stuffy · Victorian · old-maidish · fastidious · fussy · squeamish · demure · modest
Smugly pleased with oneself
- complacentUncritically self-satisfied
- smirkingSmiling with smugness
- self-congratulatorySmugly satisfied with oneself
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
vain · narcissistic · egotistical · pompous · arrogant · haughty · snobbish · snooty
Rejecting differing beliefs
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
- small-mindedLacking breadth of thought
- pettyOf little importance
- parochialNarrow in perspective
provincial · insular · hidebound · blinkered · myopic · inflexible · uncharitable · censorious
sanctimonious
Feigning moral superiority
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- moralisticProne to lecturing others
sermonizing · pharisaical · pietistic · goody-goody · unctuous · pontificating · lecturing · finger-wagging · moralizing · censorious
prudish
Excessively concerned with propriety
- strait-lacedExcessively proper and strict
- primAffectedly proper and stiff
- properSocially appropriate
stiff · stuffy · Victorian · old-maidish · fastidious · fussy · squeamish · demure · modest · uptight
self-satisfied
Smugly pleased with oneself
- complacentUncritically self-satisfied
- smirkingSmiling with smugness
- self-congratulatorySmugly satisfied with oneself
conceited · vain · narcissistic · egotistical · pompous · arrogant · haughty · snobbish · snooty · uppity
intolerant
Rejecting differing beliefs
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
- small-mindedLacking breadth of thought
- pettyOf little importance
parochial · provincial · insular · hidebound · blinkered · myopic · inflexible · uncharitable · censorious · critical
- disapprovaldisapproval, scowl, disapprove, disapproves, frown
priggishtolerant
Accepting of differences
humble · broad-minded · nonjudgmental · open-minded · accepting
priggishshameless
Lacking moral embarrassment
improper · immodest · uninhibited · licentious · indecent
priggishunaffected
Not changed or influenced
unpretentious · easygoing · natural · down-to-earth · relaxed