prudishness
prudishness — noun
1. a tendency to feel very uncomfortable or offended by language or behaviour that
a tendency to feel very uncomfortable or offended by language or behaviour that most people accept as normal, particularly when the topic is sex or the human body.
Amelia's prudishness meant she refused to watch any film with a romantic scene.
possessive + prudishness + meant + result clause
The prudishness of the council led them to ban a book about sexuality from schools.
Tunde's friends teased him about his prudishness because even a mild joke made him blush.
Historians argue that Victorian prudishness helped the upper classes show their status.
Rania found her relatives' prudishness exhausting since they were shocked by casual clothes and swearing.
- primness
more about exaggerated formal correctness in behaviour, not specifically about sexual topics
- stuffiness
suggests an old-fashioned, overly serious attitude rather than a focus on modesty
- puritanism
carries historical and religious weight; implies a belief that pleasure itself is wrong
- openness
willingness to discuss or accept different kinds of behaviour without shock
- permissiveness
tolerance of behaviour that prudish people would find shocking or improper
文法句型
prudishness + of + noun phrase
possessive + prudishness
用法筆記
Uncountable noun used mainly in formal or critical writing. Often carries implied disapproval of the attitude as being too conservative or strict. The corresponding adjective is prudish.
常見錯誤
prudishness — adjective
- prudishnesspositive
- more prudishnesscomparative
- most prudishnesssuperlative
1. behaving in a way that shows you are easily shocked or offended by sexual matter
behaving in a way that shows you are easily shocked or offended by sexual matters or rude language, often to a degree that seems extreme or unnecessary to others.
Reuben was too prudish to discuss the health class topic openly with his classmates.
too prudish + to-infinitive
The prudish attitudes of the 1950s kept TV shows from showing a couple in bed.
João's prudish reaction to the comedy surprised friends who had never seen him so uncomfortable.
Tamás felt too prudish to join the conversation about the popular dating show.
- priggish
stronger disapproval; suggests someone is self-righteously moral, not just modest
- strait-laced
more informal; suggests strict, conventional behaviour and old-fashioned values
- broad-minded
willing to accept different kinds of behaviour and opinions without shock
- liberal
open to new ideas and ways of behaving, especially concerning personal freedom
文法句型
too prudish + to-infinitive
prudish + about + noun phrase
prudish attitude/reaction/remark
用法筆記
Describes a person or their behaviour. Frequently used in a critical tone. The noun form is prudishness; a person who is prudish is called a prude.