hypocrisy

noun

hy·poc·ri·sy | \ hi-ˈpä-krə-sē also hī-

plural hypocrisies

Definition of hypocrisy

1 : a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel His hypocrisy was finally revealed with the publication of his private letters. especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion our conventional morality often serves as a cover for hypocrisy and selfishness — Lucius Garvin

2 : an act or instance of hypocrisy a keen awareness of one's parents' hypocrisies

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hypocrisy

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Examples of hypocrisy in a Sentence

When his private letters were made public, they revealed his hypocrisy. the hypocrisy of people who say one thing but do another Teenagers often have a keen awareness of their parents' hypocrisies.

Recent Examples on the Web

You were supposed to feel the sudden wind-shear of hypocrisy. — Lance Morrow, WSJ, "A Spectral Witness Materializes," 17 Sep. 2018 This is why Donald Trump’s objection to Bee’s language not only smacks of hypocrisy, but also makes no sense. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "What’s So Bad About the C-Word?," 5 June 2018 During Arsene Wenger's swansong against Burnley, the hypocrisy in the air was rife. — SI.com, "Emery Social Media Response Underlines Why Arsenal Fans Have Become the Worst in Football," 22 May 2018 The fact that Trump’s businesses rely on undocumented workers while the president himself rails against them highlights his hypocrisy on immigration. — Alexia Fernández Campbell, Vox, "The hypocrisy of Trump’s immigration agenda is getting harder to ignore," 11 Dec. 2018 Oh come on, the hypocrisy that runs around our gender is amazing. — Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, "Glenda Jackson, 82, on Sexism, Earning Your Wrinkles, and Cynthia Nixon's Run for Governor," 9 May 2018 The more good writers exposing their awful hypocrisy the better. — Eric Johnson, Recode, "‘The NFL is like a drug lord and football is like crack,’ says ‘Big Game’ author Mark Leibovich," 10 Sep. 2018 Duterte has repeatedly accused the church of hypocrisy, suggesting that many of its priests had affairs with women. — Felipe Villamor, BostonGlobe.com, "‘Who is this stupid God?’ For latest insult, Philippine leader aims high," 27 June 2018 There is much hypocrisy in the charges against Qatar. — The Economist, "Cold war in the heatWhy Gulf countries are feuding with Qatar," 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hypocrisy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for hypocrisy

Middle English ypocrisye, borrowed from Anglo-French ypocrisie, borrowed from Late Latin hypocrisis, ypocrisis, borrowed from Greek hypókrisis "playing a part on the stage, pretending to be something one is not," from hypokri-, variant stem of hypokrī́nomai, hypokrī́nesthai "to reply, make an answer, speak in dialogue, play a part on the stage, feign" (from hypo- hypo- + krī́nomai, middle voice of krī́nō, krī́nein "to separate, choose, decide, judge") + -sis, suffix forming nouns of action or process — more at certain entry 1

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More Definitions for hypocrisy

hypocrisy

noun

English Language Learners Definition of hypocrisy

: the behavior of people who do things that they tell other people not to do : behavior that does not agree with what someone claims to believe or feel

See the full definition for hypocrisy in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hypocrisy

noun

hy·poc·ri·sy | \ hi-ˈpä-krə-sē

plural hypocrisies