Words / C2

dy-DAKT-ik/daɪˈdæktɪk/

Didactic means intended to teach — and in modern criticism it often sounds negative: preachy, too keen to instruct. Educational is the neutral everyday word; instructive can still be praise. A didactic novel may lecture the reader, while a didactic caption in a museum may simply explain — tone and context decide. In speech, a bit preachy or too teachy is the usual sting; if you mean usefully educational, say so, because didactic alone can curdle.

Meaning

Intended to teach; often a criticism when it means preachy (formal).

Examples

• “The novel is interesting, not merely didactic.”
• “The fable is frankly didactic; that is the point of a fable.”
• “I wanted a story, not a didactic pamphlet on resilience.”

Good to know

Intended to teach; often a criticism (preachy). Neutral: educational / instructive. Everyday: preachy.

Near in meaning

preachy

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