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Sanctimonious: meaning, definitions and examples

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sanctimonious

 

[ ˌsæŋk.tɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

character trait

Feigning piety or righteousness; pretending to be morally superior to others.

Synonyms

hypocritical, pious, self-righteous.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
sanctimonious

Used to describe someone who pretends to be morally better than others in a way that is annoying or insincere.

  • His sanctimonious comments about charity work irritated everyone.
  • She gave a sanctimonious speech about the duties of citizens.
self-righteous

Used to describe someone who believes that their beliefs, actions, or opinions are morally superior to those of others, often in a smug or arrogant way.

  • His self-righteous attitude about healthy eating annoyed his friends.
  • The committee's self-righteous decision disregarded the opinions of others.
hypocritical

Used when someone is pretending to have virtues, moral beliefs, or principles that they do not actually possess, often exposed as being insincere.

  • It's hypocritical to demand kindness from others without offering it yourself.
  • Her hypocritical stance on environmental issues was revealed when she was seen throwing litter.
pious

Generally refers to someone who is deeply religious or devout, often used in a positive manner.

  • She is known for her pious nature and dedication to her faith.
  • His pious actions include volunteering at the local church every week.

Examples of usage

  • He was always making sanctimonious remarks about how others should live their lives.
  • The politician's sanctimonious behavior was transparent to the public.
  • Don't be so sanctimonious, we all have our flaws.

Translations

Translations of the word "sanctimonious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 santurrão

🇮🇳 पाखंडी

🇩🇪 scheinheilig

🇮🇩 munafik

🇺🇦 лицемірний

🇵🇱 świętoszkowaty

🇯🇵 偽善的な

🇫🇷 santimoneux

🇪🇸 santurrón

🇹🇷 sahte dindar

🇰🇷 위선적인

🇸🇦 منافق

🇨🇿 svatouškovský

🇸🇰 svätuškársky

🇨🇳 伪善的

🇸🇮 svetohlinški

🇮🇸 hræsinn

🇰🇿 екіжүзді

🇬🇪 ცრუ მორწმუნე

🇦🇿 ikiüzlü

🇲🇽 santurrón

Etymology

The word 'sanctimonious' originated from the Latin word 'sanctimonia' meaning holiness or sacredness. Over time, the term evolved to describe someone who acts morally superior or righteous. The negative connotation of sanctimonious behavior has been prevalent throughout history, often associated with hypocrisy and insincerity.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,108 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.