What does "moralize" mean?
To make moral reflections (on, upon, about or over something); to regard acts and events as involving a moral.
Moralize
verb
verb ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To make moral reflections (on, upon, about or over something); to regard acts and events as involving a moral.
- Grammar: moralize is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: andersen, annotate, cant, canted.
- Useful contrasts: amoral being, depraved, brutalizing.
- Usage evidence: 1589, Robert Greene, Menaphon, London: Sampson Clarke, “Arcadia,” […] his Ladie reaching him a Marigold, he began to moralize of it thus merely. I meruaile the Poets that were so prodigall in painting the amorous affection of the Sunne to his Hyacinth, did neuer obserue the relation of loue twixt him and the Marigold:
How to use "moralize"
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Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "moralize" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "moralize" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Verb
- 1 To make moral reflections (on, upon, about or over something); to regard acts and events as involving a moral. intransitive
"1589, Robert Greene, Menaphon, London: Sampson Clarke, “Arcadia,” […] his Ladie reaching him a Marigold, he began to moralize of it thus merely. I meruaile the Poets that were so prodigall in painting the amorous affection of the Sunne to his Hyacinth, did neuer obserue the relation of loue twixt him and the Marigold:"
- 2 improve the morals of wordnet
- 3 To say (something) expressing a moral reflection or judgment. transitive
"“Unless I heard the whole repeated, I cannot continue it,” she said. / “Yet it was quickly learned, ‘soon gained, soon gone,’” moralized the tutor."
- 4 speak as if delivering a sermon; express moral judgements wordnet
- 5 To render moral; to correct the morals of; to give the appearance of morality to. transitive
"Let gratefull Aromatick odours burne, Let pious incense smoake, for the returne Of Great Flaminius, in whom abide More Art, then raised Athens to her pride, More civill Ethicks he containe, then may Well moralize all sauage India."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 interpret the moral meaning of wordnet
- 7 To give a moral quality to; to affect the moral quality of, either for better or worse. transitive
"1716, Thomas Browne, Christian Morals, Part 3, in Religio Medici; its sequel Christian Morals, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1844, p. 211, For since good and bad stars moralize not our actions, and neither excuse nor commend, acquit or condemn our good or bad deeds at the present or last bar […] not celestial figures, but virtuous schemes must denominate and state our actions."
- 8 To apply to a moral purpose; to explain in a moral sense; to draw a moral from. obsolete, transitive
"Did he not moralize this spectacle?"
- 9 To supply with moral lessons, teachings, or examples; to lend a moral to. obsolete, transitive
"Kind Nature’s charities his steps attend, In every babbling brook he finds a friend, While chast’ning thoughts of sweetest use, bestowed By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road."
Antonyms
Example
"1589, Robert Greene, Menaphon, London: Sampson Clarke, “Arcadia,” […] his Ladie reaching him a Marigold, he began to moralize of it thus merely. I meruaile the Poets that were so prodigall in painting the amorous affection of the Sunne to his Hyacinth, did neuer obserue the relation of loue twixt him and the Marigold:"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "moralize"?
Common synonyms include: andersen, annotate, cant, canted, canting, cants.
How do you use "moralize" in a sentence?
1589, Robert Greene, Menaphon, London: Sampson Clarke, “Arcadia,” […] his Ladie reaching him a Marigold, he began to moralize of it thus merely. I meruaile the Poets that were so prodigall in painting the amorous affection of the Sunne to his Hyacinth, did neuer obserue the relation of loue twixt him and the Marigold:
Etymology
From Old French moraliser, equivalent to moral + -ize.