straitlaced
Excessively prim, moralistic
Straitlaced describes someone rigidly proper in manners and morals, especially regarding sex.
The term suggests excessive primness—a straitlaced person might object to off-color jokes or bare shoulders at dinner.
Her straitlaced parents wouldn't let her date until college.
The spelling straightlaced, treating strait as an error, is now common.
Excessively strict about morals
- prudishExcessively concerned with propriety
- priggishSmugly self-righteous
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
self-righteous · moralistic · preachy · judgmental · censorious · Victorian · pietistic · bluenosed
Modestly reserved in manner
- modestLacking in pretension
- reservedRestrained in manner
- decorousSocially appropriate, dignified
- properSocially appropriate
stiff · formal · starched · correct · precise · fastidious · fussy · finicky
One following accepted norms
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
square · staid · buttoned-up · establishment · bourgeois · mainstream · hidebound · stuffy
Unable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
stern · austere · severe · exacting · demanding · disciplined · regimented · authoritarian
puritanical
Excessively strict about morals
- prudishExcessively concerned with propriety
- priggishSmugly self-righteous
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
holier-than-thou · self-righteous · moralistic · preachy · judgmental · censorious · Victorian · pietistic · bluenosed · narrow-minded
demure
Modestly reserved in manner
proper · stiff · formal · starched · correct · precise · fastidious · fussy · finicky · persnickety
conformist
One following accepted norms
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- conservativeCautious about altering customs
- orthodoxConforming to established belief
old-fashioned · square · staid · buttoned-up · establishment · bourgeois · mainstream · hidebound · stuffy · fuddy-duddy
inflexible
Unable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
strict · stern · austere · severe · exacting · demanding · disciplined · regimented · authoritarian · stringent
- restrainedrestrained, reserved, subdued, controlled, muted
straitlacedpermissive
Tolerant, lacking strictness
lax · loose · broad-minded · freewheeling · immoral
straitlacedpromiscuous
Sexually undiscriminating
slutty · slatternly · loose · sluttish · trampy
straitlacedfreewheeling
Acting without restraint
free-spirited · bohemian · uninhibited · easygoing · broad-minded
lace, lacing, strait, strait-laced, straitjacket, straightlaced, straight-laced