Hypocritically: meaning, definitions and examples

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hypocritically

 

[ ˌhɪpəˈkrɪtɪkli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

in a deceitful or insincere manner

Acting hypocritically means behaving in a way that contradicts one's stated beliefs or principles, often with the intention of deceiving others. It involves pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually possess.

Synonyms

deceitfully, duplicitously, insincerely, two-faced.

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Word Description / Examples
hypocritically

Used when someone pretends to have virtues or beliefs they do not actually possess. It often implies a strong moral or ethical stance that is not genuine.

  • She spoke hypocritically about the importance of honesty, despite her own repeated lies.
  • The politician hypocritically condemned others for tax evasion while hiding his own offshore accounts.
insincerely

Used when someone is not showing genuine feelings or intentions. This word suggests a lack of real emotion or commitment.

  • He apologized insincerely, clearly not meaning it.
  • She complimented him insincerely, with no real admiration.
deceitfully

Used when someone is deliberately lying or being dishonest to mislead others. This word often involves intentional manipulation.

  • He deceitfully altered the documents to win the contract.
  • The salesperson deceitfully exaggerated the benefits of the product.
two-faced

Used to describe someone who presents one face to certain people and another face to others. This term is colloquial and often used in informal settings.

  • He is so two-faced, acting friendly to Jane but criticizing her behind her back.
  • I can't trust someone who is so two-faced; they never show their true self.
duplicitously

Used when a person is being double-faced, showing different characters or behaviors to different people to deceive them. It often involves betrayal and is very negative.

  • He acted duplicitously, promising loyalty to both sides.
  • Her duplicitous actions caused a lot of mistrust in the team.

Examples of usage

  • She hypocritically claimed to support equality while discriminating against minorities.
  • He spoke hypocritically about the importance of honesty, yet he was lying himself.
  • The politician hypocritically criticized corruption while engaging in corrupt practices himself.

Translations

Translations of the word "hypocritically" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hipocritamente

🇮🇳 पाखंडपूर्ण तरीके से

🇩🇪 heuchlerisch

🇮🇩 munafik

🇺🇦 лицемірно

🇵🇱 obłudnie

🇯🇵 偽善的に

🇫🇷 hypocritement

🇪🇸 hipócrita

🇹🇷 ikiyüzlü bir şekilde

🇰🇷 위선적으로

🇸🇦 بشكل منافق

🇨🇿 pokrytecky

🇸🇰 pokrytecky

🇨🇳 虚伪地

🇸🇮 hinavsko

🇮🇸 hræsnislega

🇰🇿 екіжүзділікпен

🇬🇪 ფარისევლურად

🇦🇿 riyakarcasına

🇲🇽 hipócrita

Etymology

The word 'hypocritically' comes from the noun 'hypocrite', which originated in Middle English from Old French 'ypocrite' and Latin 'hypocrita', meaning 'actor' or 'stage player'. The term evolved to refer to someone who pretends to have virtues or moral beliefs that they do not actually possess. The adverb form 'hypocritically' emerged to describe actions or behaviors that are deceitful or insincere.

See also: hypocrisy, hypocritical, hypocriticalness.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,623 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.