Bowdlerize

Quick meaning: Bowdlerize is a verb meaning (transitive) To remove or alter those parts of a text considered offensive, vulgar, or otherwise unseemly.

Meaning

(transitive) To remove or alter those parts of a text considered offensive, vulgar, or otherwise unseemly.

Example Sentences

The bowdlerized version of the novel, while free of vulgarity, was also free of flavor.

His critics take alarm only when it becomes apparent that he would bowdlerize Homer and exclude from his state the great tragedians.

Let me tell you about Madicken. (Mardie in English. Or Meg, but that’s in the American translation and that’s bowdlerized and you should never read it.)

"Wadley sent a message: 'The President of the Zoological Institute presents his compliments to Professor Challenger, and would take it as a personal favor if he would do them the honour to come to their next meeting.' The answer was unprintable." "You don't say?" "Well, a bowdlerized version of it would run: 'Professor Challenger presents his compliments to the President of the Zoological Institute, and would take it as a personal favour if he would go to the devil.'"

Word Forms

• bowdlerizes
• bowdlerizing
• bowdlerized
• bowdlerise
• Bowdlerise

Synonyms for bowdlerize

Depending on context, synonyms include expurgate, bowdlerise, shorten.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include expurgate, bowdlerise, shorten, vulgarize, devulgarise, unvulgarize.

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