adjective

sanctimonious

/sæŋk.tɪˈmoʊ.ni.əs/ · say it: sank·tuh·MOH·nee·uhs

making a show of being morally superior

In more detail

1. (adjective) claiming to be morally or religiously superior to others, while often behaving in ways that contradict those claims; showing false piety or righteousness

Examples

1. His sanctimonious speech about helping the poor was undermined by the fact that he never actually donated any money.

How to use sanctimonious

Sanctimonious is a strongly disapproving term used to criticize people who display exaggerated moral or religious superiority while failing to live up to their own stated principles. It emphasizes hypocrisy and self-deception more than simple self-righteousness, and is typically applied to public figures, authority figures, or anyone whose moralizing seems performative rather than genuine.

Common phrases

sanctimonious attitude
sanctimonious tone
sanctimonious preaching
sound sanctimonious
sanctimonious posturing

Synonyms

holier-than-thou · self-righteous · pious · hypocritical · smug

Opposites

humble · modest

Word family

sanctimony (noun) · sanctimoniously (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse sanctimonious with simply being religious or pious; the key is the false, hypocritical nature combined with the display of superiority.

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