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Purity Spiral

A social ratchet effect within a community. A process of moral outbidding, unchecked, which corrodes the group from within, rewarding those who put themselves at the extremes, and punishing nuance relentlessly.

Not to be confused with 'virtue signalling', 'woke culture', or 'online mobs'.

A purity spiral can contain all of these things, but it is defined by the fact that it takes place in a defined community or society, where being purer-than-thou is always being rewarded, and holding a divergent, 'less pure' opinion is normally punished, a dynamic which leads to an inevitable escalation as only the most extreme can 'win'.

Could be anything, from Mao's Red Guard, to Neo-Nazis, to The Crucible, to Instagram knitting.
After Louise denounced Nike as bourgeois, the village fell into a purity spiral where first Nikes, then all sneakers, then all shoes, and later, socks, were burnt on a pyre by the villagers.

Foot amputations followed in the Spring.
Purity Spiral by pizzleswizzle January 30, 2020
Related Words

puriteen 

A (almost always) young person on the internet who thinks that the internet has to conform to being entirely sfw, and puts all of their time and energy into attempting to police art and media for any remote depiction of sexuality they personally disagree with. They are often seen screaming in comments sections and making personal attacks against nsfw artists over a drawing, when their anger would be better directed towards real people who genuinely advocate for harmful behavior.
Keep in mind, immature adults can also have the mentality of a child and fit this definition.
Puriteen: "OMG THIS DRAWING IS SO PROBLEMATIC DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW. EVERYONE ATTACK THIS PERSON!"
Rational adult: "My account says it's 18+. You're not even supposed to be here, you weird puriteen."
puriteen by gulk October 28, 2023
Word of the Day on June 29, 2025

puriosity 

A combination of 'pure' and 'curiosity' that is shorter than saying "pure curiosity".
John: Hey Mark, out of puriosity, how much money do valegrams cost at our school?
Mark: Oh, they're .50C each!
John: Great, thanks Mark!
puriosity by TheRealDaddyO5 February 9, 2019

purikura 

Japanese photo booths called "Print Club." For about three dollars you print out a sheet of sixteen small stickers with your photo on it, with crazy or cute borders and cartoon images (aka Hello kitty.)

VERY popular in Japan and it's catching on here too. Sticker picture booths are available in most mall arcades.
I'm covering the whole first page of my journal with all my different purikura sticker pictures!

Lets go get purikura together after school!
purikura by La La Lola May 13, 2005

rice purity test 

the rice purity test is a purity test from rice university (no shit) that gives you a purity score with 0 being least pure and 100 being most pure
"ah, no shit that jenny is a 32 on the rice purity test!"

purity ball 

a creepy, covertly incestuous ritual in which a girl "gives" her virginity to her father who will "give" it to her husband on her wedding day. inherently misogynist, since no one seems to care about what boys do with their dingalings. usually put on by evangelical fundie Christian dads who "date" their daughters, exhibit lots of family love, and have an unhealthy interest in their daughters' sexuality.
Did you see the Glamour article on incest-fest... er, I mean, purity balls?
purity ball by Heina January 7, 2009
More from Urban Dictionary

briefcake 

"Did you check out the briefcake in courtroom C?"
briefcake by Ben Frey April 6, 2006
Word of the Day on November 3, 2026
Brought to public attention by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the book on the fall of Richard Nixon, All The President’s Men, ratfucker was Nixon’s term for a political operative who sows chaos among opponents; an agent provocateur. It is thought to have originated among campus political rivalries at USC, and seems to have some usage in the US military.
Along with Nixon’s other ratfuckers, Roger Stone caused fights at otherwise peaceful Democratic Party protests to generate a false narrative that the Democrats were violent and dangerous.
Ratfucker by Ricky Ramjet November 2, 2017
Word of the Day on November 2, 2026

countrypolitan 

Term used to describe someone who is a mix of both rural (country) and urban (metropolitan) lifestyles/upbringings. He/she is typically equally comfortable in both settings and is able to seamlessly slip back and forth between the two, appreciating the characteristics of each.
That ol' gal of mine drives the 12 lane freeway during the week and a John Deere on the weekends. She likes opra and the Grand Ol' Opry. I love them countrypolitan women.
countrypolitan by MOChick November 7, 2006
Word of the Day on November 1, 2026

Witch Bath 

A bath consisting of a variety of slats, oils, soaps or any other added ingredients such as fruits, milks, herbs or any other spices for health or beautifying benifits.
She brought home alot of stuff and took it to the bathroom. She must be taking a witch bath.
Witch Bath by carnieboy30 October 26, 2020
Word of the Day on October 31, 2026

kinktober 

An excuse for people to write porn with different types of kinks throughout the month of October.

Smut Fanfiction
That chick doesn't write often but when she does, its for Kinktober.
kinktober by Kinkiest July 12, 2018
Word of the Day on October 30, 2026

proper lad 

a lad that is such a lad that he is a proper lad
person1:did you see bob
person2: ya he was a proper lad
Word of the Day on October 29, 2026
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