jansenist

/ˈdʒænsənɪst/
noun
  1. A follower of Jansenism, a Christian religious movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized original sin, divine grace, and strict moral living.
    • Many Jansenists were persecuted for their strict religious views in France.
    • The Jansenist believed that only a few people were chosen by God for salvation.
    • The historian studied the letters of a famous Jansenist from the 1600s.
  2. A person who holds very strict or severe moral or religious views, often seen as overly rigid or pessimistic.
    • She called him a Jansenist because he refused to laugh at any jokes.
    • My grandfather is a bit of a Jansenist when it comes to rules — he thinks fun is a waste of time.
    • The teacher's Jansenist attitude made the classroom feel like a prison.
Antonyms
adjective
  1. Relating to Jansenism or its followers.
    • The Jansenist movement had a strong influence on French literature.
    • He found a rare Jansenist pamphlet in the old library.
    • The church's Jansenist teachings discouraged dancing and theater.
  2. Having a very strict, severe, or gloomy moral outlook.
    • His Jansenist frown scared the children away.
    • Her Jansenist upbringing made her feel guilty about enjoying a sunny day.
    • The company's Jansenist policies banned all social events.
What does "jansenist" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean