manichean
/ˌmænɪˈkiən/
noun
- A follower of Manichaeism.
- The Manicheans were persecuted by both the Roman Empire and the Persian Empire.
- The Manicheans believed that the material world was created by an evil force.
- Historians have found evidence of Manichean communities along the Silk Road.
- A person who sees everything in terms of a simple struggle between good and evil.
- The journalist described the general as a Manichean who viewed every war as a holy crusade.
- She called him a Manichean for always dividing people into saints and sinners.
- In the debate, he acted like a Manichean, refusing to acknowledge any nuance.
adjective
- Relating to Manichaeism or its belief in a constant struggle between good and evil.
- The debate became Manichean, with each side refusing to see any value in the other's arguments.
- Some religious scholars argue that Manichean ideas influenced early Christian thought.
- The novel has a Manichean view of the world, with heroes who are completely good and villains who are completely evil.
- Seeing things in terms of absolute opposites, especially good versus evil, with no middle ground.
- She warned against a Manichean approach to the conflict, urging people to consider the complexities.
- His Manichean mindset makes it hard for him to compromise on any political issue.
- The movie's Manichean plot was criticized for being too simplistic.
Synonyms