'Formalist' definitions:
Definition of 'Formalist'
From: GCIDE
- Formalist \Form"al*ist\, n. [Cf. F. formaliste.] One overattentive to forms, or too much confined to them; esp., one who rests in external religious forms, or observes strictly the outward forms of worship, without possessing the life and spirit of religion. [1913 Webster]
- As far a formalist from wisdom sits, In judging eyes, as libertines from wits. --Young. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'formalist'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- affecter,
- anal character,
- Babbitt,
- bluestocking,
- bourgeois,
- burgher,
- canter,
- canting hypocrite,
- chameleon,
- compulsive character,
- conformer,
- conformist,
- conventionalist,
- dissembler,
- dissimulator,
- formularist,
- formulist,
- High-Churchist,
- Holy Willie,
- hypocrite,
- Joseph Surface,
- lip server,
- lip worshiper,
- liturgist,
- Mawworm,
- methodologist,
- Middle American,
- middle-class type,
- model child,
- organization man,
- parrot,
- Pecksniff,
- pedant,
- perfectionist,
- Pharisee,
- pharisee,
- Philistine,
- pietist,
- pious fraud,
- plastic person,
- poser,
- precieuse,
- precieux,
- precisian,
- precisianist,
- precisionist,
- purist,
- ranter,
- religionist,
- religious hypocrite,
- ritualist,
- Sabbatarian,
- sacramentarian,
- sheep,
- sniveler,
- snuffler,
- spiritual humbug,
- square,
- Tartuffe,
- teenybopper,
- temporizer,
- timepleaser,
- timeserver,
- trimmer,
- Vicar of Bray,
- weathercock,
- whited sepulcher,
- yes-man