formalist

plural formalists

1. An overly formal person, especially one who adheres to current forms; a stickler

   The Besht preached that the simple man, imbued with native faith and able to pray fervently and wholeheartedly with a sense of joy in his heart, was nearer and dearer to God than the learned but joyless formalist spending his whole life in the study of Talmud.

   2017, Velvel Pasternak, Behind the Music, Stories, Anecdotes, Articles and Reflections, page 225

2. An advocate of formalism

comparative more formalist · superlative most formalist

1. Of or pertaining to formalism; formalistic