moralize

verb

mor·​al·​ize ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 

ˈmär-

moralized; moralizing

transitive verb

1

: to explain or interpret morally

2

a

: to give a moral quality or direction to

b

: to improve the morals of

intransitive verb

: to make moral reflections

moralization

ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌmär-

noun

moralizer

ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈmär-

noun

Examples of moralize in a Sentence

an essay moralizing about the evils of alcohol

Recent Examples on the Web

Ironically, the play does come with a preachy streak, playing to its crowd with pat-yourself-on-the-back monologues, moralizing with a pause for applause. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Similarly, gays in horror movies could just go camping with their friends — and worry about psycho killers who were just good old-fashioned horror-movie maniacs, instead of moralizing sin hunters or trans people made terrifying. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 12 June 2024

But Ireland retains its faith in the power of certain forms of moralizing censorship to manage or disguise political failures: The new hate-speech laws look like a desperate attempt to preempt debate about Ireland’s demographic transformation. —Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023

And in its rule-making, the EU should simplify and streamline, rather than moralize and nitpick. —Peter Vanham, Fortune Europe, 12 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

moralize

verb

mor·​al·​ize ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlīz 

ˈmär-

moralized; moralizing

1

: to explain in a moral sense : draw a moral from

2

: to make moral or morally better

3

: to make moral comments

moralization

ˌmȯr-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌmär-

noun

moralizer

ˈmȯr-ə-ˌlī-zər 

ˈmär-

noun