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Glite Dictionary
legalism

legalism

5 8.6
Following rules or laws exactly without caring about their purpose
  • noun
  • /ˈliːɡəlɪzəm/
  • Formal
translation icon : legalismo
  • His strict adherence to the rules was criticized as legalism, ignoring the intent behind the laws.
  • the sin of legalism
  • legalism that shuts people

And I, I will say that as part of their impression is it feels very similar to Sadducees, Pharisees, hyper legalism.

Examples

  • Church rigidity, intolerance, and legalism are taking down the Church as we know it.

    Blog text (34)

  • Gerson reacts against the legalism and formalism in the Church.

    Academic text (1993)

  • At the core of each, however, is a move from legalism toward compassion.

  • No more confusion and legalism; instead, I seek to love God and my husband.

    Blog text (34)

  • How can a young girl be attracted to this kind of legalism?

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The sin of legalism becomes apparent in our struggles with modernity.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Bonaventure's analysis of the sin of the Church as legalism further unveils the problem of partisanship in the Church.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The Pharisees were addicted to legalism, and they condemned people who weren't as zealous in following the law.

    Blog text (29)

  • Many believe that legalism can lead to a rigid interpretation of the law, undermining justice.

  • The committee's focus on legalism prevented them from addressing the underlying ethical issues.

Synonyms

formalism
vslegalism
1 9.0

Strictly following rules and forms without room for change

prioritizes literal law wording over underlying intent
textualism
vslegalism
  • Formal
1 8.8

To read laws and other texts only by their exact words

prefers literal application of law wording over its intended purpose
rigorism
vslegalism
  • Formal
9.8

Strict following of rules with no exceptions

focuses on obeying exact law words even against intended purpose

Antonyms

flexibility
153 3.6

Ability to change plans or actions easily to fit new situations

How Strict

rigidity
7 7.0
formalism
1 9.0
legalism
  • Formal
5 8.6
moderation
5 3.7
laxity
3 8.3

Surface Forms

legalism singular
legalisms plural

Morphology

legalism = legal (semi-transparent) = legal + ism

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ism' to 'legal' to denote a doctrine or practice; the specialized sense of strict adherence is a nuance learners may not fully infer.

Etymology

Legalism comes from the common word legal, which points to 'law', and the ending -ism, which means a 'belief' or 'system'. So, legalism is the practice of following the exact words of laws or rules, often without caring about their spirit.