Preachier

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting a tendency to deliver moral or religious advice in an overly earnest or self-righteous manner
2. Characterized by a manner that involves frequent or excessive lecturing on ethical or spiritual matters
3. Displaying a habit of offering sermons or moral guidance with an affected or sanctimonious tone

Etymology: "Preachier" is simply the comparative of "preachy," so the story is really the story of its base. "Preachy" is formed from "preach" plus the suffix "-y," which turns a noun or verb into an adjective meaning "characterised by" or "having the quality of." The suffix comes down through Middle English from Old English "-ig," a common adjective ending, with ancestry reaching back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root, but in English it is a plain, productive suffix rather than anything exotic. The comparative "preachier" follows the usual rule for two-syllable adjectives ending in "-y": the "y" changes to "i" before "-er," so "preachy" becomes "preachier," just as "heavy" becomes "heavier" and "happy" becomes "happier." The form describes someone who lectures more, or more sanctimoniously, than another person does.

Synonyms: more sermonic, more moralistic, more didactic, more sanctimonious, more pontificating

Antonyms: less preachy, less moralistic, less didactic, less sanctimonious, less pontificating