The publisher's insistence on cutting out sexual references from the text was widely condemned as bowdlerism.

The editor Bowdlerizes classic novels to make them more suitable for younger readers, drawing criticism from literary purists.

The publisher Bowdlerized the diary, removing candid passages to avoid scandal.

Bowdlerizing the manuscript to avoid controversy, the editor removed several passages that critics later defended as essential.

Bowdler's edits to the novel were criticized for altering its tone and meaning.

Editors sometimes Bowdlerize classic novels to make them suitable for younger audiences.