[Vocabulary] prudishness vs prudery

[m5000]

Are they synonyms or is there a difference between them? If so, how exactly do they differ?

 

[MikeNewYork]

They are synonyms. I don't think "prudery" is used much anymore.

 

[Rover_KE]

According to this, 'prudery' is more common, but not by much.

 

[emsr2d2]

According to this, 'prudery' is more common, but not by much.

I'm surprised at that statistic. I would use "prudishness" and I am certain I've heard it much more frequently than "prudery". In fact, I would go so far as to say I haven't heard "prudery" used at all.

 

[tedmc]

I am getting skeptical about the reliability of the Ngram Viewer.

 

[MikeNewYork]

That surprises me also.