moralize means to make moral reflections (on, upon, about or over something); to regard acts and events as involving a moral. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 80 out of 100.
moralize is pronounced /ˈmɒ.ɹə.laɪz/.
Why “moralize” is a great word
MORALIZE — [Verb] To comment on or interpret behavior or events in terms of right and wrong, often in a self-righteous or judgmental manner. From Old French moraliser, equivalent to moral (from Latin moralis, "proper behavior of a person in society") + the verb-forming suffix -ize. First attested in English c. 1400. Unlike "preach," which implies delivering a sermon to an audience, or "lecture," which emphasizes a lengthy, instructive reprimand, to moralize is to distill a brittle lesson from the messy particular. It is the weary sigh over a neighbor's unkempt lawn seen as a parable of sloth, the pointed silence that frames a friend's indiscretion as a failure of character, or the clucking review of a stranger's misfortune that finds its true offense in poor optics—a minor, daily liturgy performed by those who appoint themselves curators of a world's failing virtue.
verb
- To make moral reflections (on, upon, about or over something); to regard acts and events as involving a moral.“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:”
- To say (something) expressing a moral reflection or judgment.““Unless I heard the whole repeated, I cannot continue it,” she said. / “Yet it was quickly learned, ‘soon gained, soon gone,’” moralized the tutor.”
- To render moral; to correct the morals of; to give the appearance of morality to.“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.”
- To give a moral quality to; to affect the moral quality of, either for better or worse.“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.”
- To apply to a moral purpose; to explain in a moral sense; to draw a moral from.“Did he not moralize this spectacle?”
- To supply with moral lessons, teachings, or examples; to lend a moral to.“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.”