Dictionary Definition
prudish adj : exaggeratedly proper; "my
straitlaced Aunt Anna doesn't approve of my miniskirts" [syn:
priggish, prim, prissy, puritanical, square-toed,
straitlaced,
strait-laced,
straightlaced,
straight-laced,
tight-laced,
victorian]
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Adjective
prudish- of excessive propriety; easily offended or shocked, especially by sexual matters
Related terms
Extensive Definition
A prude (Old French
prude) is a person who is described as being overly concerned with
decorum or propriety. They may be
perceived as being uncomfortable with sexuality,
nudity, alcohol, drug
use or mischief.
The name is generally considered to mean
excessive modesty, and
hence unflattering, and is often used as an insult. A person who is
considered a prude may have reservations about nudity,
participating in romantic or sexual activity, drinking alcohol or
consuming other drugs, or participating in mischief. These
reservations may stem from shyness or strict moral beliefs.
Actions or beliefs that may cause someone to be labeled a prude
include advocating or practising abstinence, advocating
prohibition,
advocating censorship
of sexuality or nudity
in media, disapproval of being topless in
public, avoiding or condemning
public display of affection, or exhibiting unusual levels of
discomfort with sexuality, alcohol, drugs or mischief.
Like modesty, one's perceived
prudishness may vary according to who is present.
In contrast, prude was orginally a noble
compliment. Throughout history, it was usually associated with
wisdom, integrity, usefulness, and profit.
Sexually repressed or sexually repressive are
other terms used to describe people who might be labeled prudes.
The term Puritan is sometimes used in the same way, reflecting the
stereotype image of members of the Puritan religious
sect.
The degree of being prude can vary among
different cultural frames.
In many areas of New York and
New
Jersey, the term "prude" has been adapted to a noun, a person
who hasn't yet received their first kiss.
See also
References
prudish in German: Prüderie
Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words
Quakerish, Victorian, austere, censorious, choicy, choosy, conscientious, critical, decorous, demure, discriminating, discriminative, exacting, fastidious, formal, fussy, genteel, hidebound, meticulous, mid-Victorian,
narrow, old-maidish,
overmodest, particular, perfectionistic,
picky, precise, precisianistic, priggish, prim, prissy, proper, punctilious, puristic, puritanic, puritanical, rigid, sanctimonious, scrupulous, selective, sensitive, severe, smug, squeamish, stern, stiff, stiff-necked, strait-laced,
straitlaced,
strict, stuffy