define sanctimonious

Sanctimonious means behaving as though you are morally superior to others, especially in a showy or hypocritical way.

Core meaning

• Sanctimonious describes someone who makes a big show of being very moral, religious, or virtuous, while the attitude feels fake, preachy, or holier‑than‑thou.

• It often implies hypocrisy: the person criticizes others’ behavior while ignoring or hiding similar flaws in themselves.

In everyday use

• Typical use: “a sanctimonious politician” or “a sanctimonious speech” for someone lecturing others about morals in an irritating, self‑righteous way.

• A simpler synonym is self‑righteous ; related ideas include smug, preachy, and holier‑than‑thou.

Quick examples

• “His sanctimonious comments about honesty rang hollow after the scandal.”

• “She gave me a sanctimonious lecture about screen time, then spent all evening on her phone.”

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