Priggish

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɪɡɪʃ/

Definitions

1. Exhibiting an attitude marked by moral superiority and excessive propriety, often leading to criticism of others' behavior and an air of condescension
2. Characterized by a self-righteous demeanor that emphasizes strict moral standards, frequently resulting in judgmental attitudes towards those perceived as less proper
3. Displaying a self-important and overly prim attitude that involves criticizing others for perceived moral failures and maintaining an air of superiority

Etymology: "Priggish" is about as plain as English derivation gets: it is the adjective "prig" with the suffix "-ish" attached, meaning "having the qualities of a prig." The suffix is an ancient one, descending through Old English "-isċ" from a Proto-Germanic form that also gave English words like "Danish" and "English" their endings, and its job was simply to mean "somewhat like" or "pertaining to." The base word carries the more colorful history. "Prig" first appeared in English in the 1500s with meanings tied to a conceited, showy person, and by the eighteenth century it had settled into its current sense of someone who is self-righteously fussy about manners, morals, or propriety. A priggish person is not necessarily wicked; the fault lies in the pleasure they take in appearing better than everyone else, often while correcting others.

Synonyms: self-righteous, sanctimonious

Antonyms: unpretentious, modest