purity test
Loyalty measuring quiz
A purity test is a set of questions measuring someone's experience with transgressive behaviors—typically sex, drugs, and rule-breaking.
Originally campus traditions where high scores meant innocence, low scores meant experience: I scored 94 on the purity test as a freshman.
The term now applies more broadly to any ideological litmus test, especially in politics, where adherence to every position is demanded: Progressive candidates face purity tests from their own party.
Formal inquiry form
- quizBrief informal test
- checklistItemized verification guide
- scoreNumerical standing in competition
- ratingAssigned evaluative score
scale · benchmark · criteria · threshold · pass-fail · screening · self-assessment · evaluation
Absence of carnal experience
- chastityAbstaining from sexual activity
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- inexperienceLack of prior exposure
- naivetyInnocent lack of experience
sheltered · wholesome · untouched · pristine · unblemished · pious · modest · celibacy
Close, careful examination
- criticismJudgment of faults
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
disapproval · shaming · callout · cancellation · ostracism · holier-than-thou · finger-pointing · litmus
Faithful commitment to another
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- tribalismIn-group loyalty, out-group hostility
- groupthinkConformity-driven poor decisions
dogma · partisan · conformity · ideological · political · ingroup · faction · extremism
Strong negative reaction
- debateFormal argument on issues
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- polarizingCausing sharp division
- outrageFierce moral indignation
criticism · toxic · problematic · cancel culture · culture war · online discourse · drama · discourse
questionnaire
Formal inquiry form
rating · scale · benchmark · criteria · threshold · pass-fail · screening · self-assessment · evaluation · metric
virginity
Absence of carnal experience
- chastityAbstaining from sexual activity
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- inexperienceLack of prior exposure
naivety · sheltered · wholesome · untouched · pristine · unblemished · pious · modest · celibacy · virtue
scrutiny
Close, careful examination
- criticismJudgment of faults
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
condemnation · disapproval · shaming · callout · cancellation · ostracism · holier-than-thou · finger-pointing · litmus · interrogation
loyalty
Faithful commitment to another
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- tribalismIn-group loyalty, out-group hostility
groupthink · dogma · partisan · conformity · ideological · political · ingroup · faction · extremism · zealotry
backlash
Strong negative reaction
- debateFormal argument on issues
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- polarizingCausing sharp division
outrage · criticism · toxic · problematic · cancel culture · culture war · online discourse · drama · discourse · Twitter
- assayinghallmarking, hallmarks, touchstone, parting, karat
- Chemical Teststitration, colorimetry, gravimetry, TLC, chromatography
- precious metalsgold, silver, platinum, palladium, bullion
- cultismcult, sect, brainwashing, indoctrination, fanaticism
- bioassaysbioassay, assay, cytotoxicity
- sugar testsmonosaccharide, disaccharide
purity testbig tent
Inclusive political approach
broad coalition · open door policy · open arms · inclusivity · pluralism
purity testpragmatism
Practical problem-solving philosophy
coalition-building · compromise · pluralism · ecumenism · agree to disagree
purity testopen invitation
welcome mat · open arms · open enrollment · unconditional acceptance · no strings attached
purity, test, pure, purely, impure, impurity, purify, purification, purist