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virtue signaling

publicly expressing views mainly to look good

In From the Opinion Pages

In more detail

the practice of publicly expressing opinions or taking actions that are intended to demonstrate one's good moral character or social awareness, often without genuine commitment to the cause

Examples

• Critics argued that posting about charity on social media without actually donating is just virtue signaling.

How to use virtue signaling

This phrase is typically used critically to describe displays of moral superiority that seem superficial or self-serving, particularly in social media contexts. It carries a distinctly pejorative tone and suggests a gap between public expression and private commitment. The term has become common in discussions of activism, corporate behavior, and online discourse.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• accused of virtue signaling
• engaged in virtue signaling
• virtue signaling on social media
• accusations of virtue signaling
• virtue signaling culture

Synonyms

performative activism · moral posturing · virtue washing · sanctimoniousness · public righteousness

Opposites

quiet charity · humble action

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use this as a neutral descriptor rather than a criticism; the term inherently carries negative judgment about authenticity and motivation.

Nearby in From the Opinion Pages

false equivalence, straw man, gaslighting, conundrum, dichotomy, heterodox

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained