Meanings
plural Bible thumpers · alternative Bible-thumper
- derogatoryA Christian fundamentalist or overzealous evangelical Christian.
The terms "Blue Light," "Holy Joe" and "Bible Thumper" began to lose some of their venom ; religion in the army was respected.
1900 June 16, Joseph Paul, “Lord Roberts in Times of Peace”, in The Standard, volume 47, number 42, Chicago: Goodman & Dickerson, page 72 more examples
Zeal and knowledge have here a wide field ; the calm, thoughtful logician ; the cold, phlegmatic reasoner ; the cautious, pathetic pleader ; the shouting, stamping Bible thumper ; all have their mission, all have their followers and admirers...
1870, J. Ashworth, “Old Ab'.”, in Strange Tales from Humble Life, Manchester: Tubbs and Brook, page 253But in spite of the antics of its Bible thumpers and its boobocracy, my father was unable to stay mad at the United States for long.
1984, Anthony West, H.G. Wells: Aspects of a Life, London: Hutchinson, →ISBN, →OL, page 126Synonyms: Bible banger, Bible basher, Jesus freak, Christer, fundie
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA Christian fundamentalist or overzealous evangelical Christian.
Origin
Evoking the image of a vocal and zealous preacher, one who might literally thump a Bible for emphasis while preaching.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Bible thumper. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bible%20thumper
“Bible thumper.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bible%20thumper. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Bible thumper,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bible%20thumper.
Source: Bible thumper on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.