priggishness

IPA/ˈprɪɡɪʃnəs/
IPA/ˈprɪɡɪʃnəs/

priggishness — noun

1. the attitude of someone who is too sure their own behaviour is morally right, an

1.名詞C2
釋義

the attitude of someone who is too sure their own behaviour is morally right, and who openly disapproves of people who act differently

例句

Lotte could not hide her irritation at the priggishness of the new librarian.

priggishness + of [person]

Lukas mistook priggishness for good manners and wondered why people avoided him.

mistook priggishness for [noun]

同義詞
  • self-righteousness

    broader term for conviction of one's own moral superiority; does not always include the open disapproval that priggishness emphasises

  • sanctimony

    more formal, often carries religious or holier-than-thou overtones

  • smugness

    general self-satisfaction that need not involve morality; you can feel smug about winning a game, but you would not call that priggishness

  • pomposity

    self-importance and exaggerated dignity; less about moral judgment and more about inflating one's own status

反義詞
  • humility

    the quality of not thinking you are better than others

  • open-mindedness

    willingness to accept different ways of behaving without judgment

文法句型

priggishness about [topic]

priggishness of [person]

accuse [someone] of priggishness

用法筆記

Typically uncountable. The most common patterns are 'priggishness about something' (the topic of moral judgment) and 'the priggishness of someone' (the person showing the attitude).

常見錯誤

He showed great priggishness by donating his salary to charity.
He showed great altruism by donating his salary to charity.
💡priggishness is always negative (smug self-satisfaction); it is never a compliment for good behaviour.
His priggishness about table manners impressed the dinner guests.
His strictness about table manners impressed the dinner guests.
💡priggishness always implies looking down on others; use a neutral word like 'strictness' if no disapproval is meant.