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Cambridge Dictionary says this definition of square is old-fashioned:

a boring person who does not like new and exciting ideas.

Then, what's another non-old-fashioned word or phrase for it?

Postscript: I might have found a synonym for 'square' now- it's 'puritan'. Not sure if this word is common enough, though. Cambridge Dictionary gives the following definition.

someone who believes that it is important to work hard and control yourself, and that pleasure is wrong or unnecessary

Background of my question: In a comedy, a middle schooler from heaven is sent to earth to learn about human. But living on her own, she instead indulges herself in video games so much that she skips classes and never cleans her room. When she knows that her elder sister is visiting, she shivers in scare. She explains that her sister is a sqaure, serious and strict, so she is fearful of the outcome of her degenerate life being found out.

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  • Are you looking for something formal or polite, or a slang term, and if it's slang, what kind of slang (where from, etc)? And how rude or offensive do you want it to be?
    – Stuart F
    Dec 14, 2022 at 14:19
  • @StuartF Isn't there any that's suitable for both formal and informal? I don't want it to be rude.
    – Michael
    Dec 14, 2022 at 14:22
  • @EllieK-Don'tsupporther I'm talking about showing little interest in things welcomed by the new generation.
    – Michael
    Dec 14, 2022 at 14:32
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    @Michael - Ahh! How about close[d]-minded -- not open new ideas or opinions.
    – EllieK
    Dec 14, 2022 at 14:41
  • 1
    @EllieK-Don'tsupporther I prefer a word for someone who won't be called 'cool' by 'cool kids'.
    – Michael
    Dec 14, 2022 at 14:58

1 Answer 1

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From a couple of web sources, synonyms of square (noun) in this sense:

Merriam-Webster square synonyms
stuffed shirt, fuddy-duddy et al.

Word Hippo square synonyms
conservative, conventional, conformist et al.

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  • 5
    stuffed shirt and fuddy-duddy are also both fairly old-fashioned.
    – Stuart F
    Dec 14, 2022 at 14:18
  • 2
    I'm quite fond of "stick-in-the-mud". Is it old-fashioned? I don't know, but most people will probably understand what you mean and it seems less risky than some other alternatives.
    – Brandin
    Dec 16, 2022 at 10:32

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