Definition of hypocrisy
hypocrisies
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
Read the Latest from M-W
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 of hypocrisy from the Web
-
Though many used social media to criticize the woman, plenty of others came to her defense, highlighting the hypocrisy of this investigation when foreign women are not held to the same standards.
-
Meanwhile, Democrats derided the event as the height of hypocrisy, given the fact that Trump companies feature numerous items made overseas, from dress ties to golf shirts.
-
The jaw drops not at the natural world, but the sheer hypocrisy of the American government, which sent young Japanese men to fight for the United States while their families were locked up in internment camps.
-
The White House press office, however, accused Clinton's team of hypocrisy.
-
Lahren apparently fails to see the hypocrisy in portraying herself as a champion for freedom while also coming down against the organization.
-
There is a certain prejudice and hypocrisy against ethnic minorities in Britain in general.
-
A central paradox -- and to skeptics, the ultimate hypocrisy -- of this city's environmental self-branding is that, at heart, Rotterdam's economy continues to rely on the fossil fuel industry.
-
Schaaf said attacking the ethics of legislators while subverting campaign disclosure laws and contribution limits with a nonprofit was the height of hypocrisy.
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.
Origin and Etymology of hypocrisy
Middle English ypocrisie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin hypocrisis, from Greek hypokrisis act of playing a part on the stage, hypocrisy, from hypokrinesthai to answer, act on the stage, from hypo- + krinein to decide — more at certain
HYPOCRISY Defined for English Language Learners
hypocrisy
playDefinition of hypocrisy for English Language Learners
-
: 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
HYPOCRISY Defined for Kids
hypocrisy
playDefinition of hypocrisy for Students
hypocrisies
: the quality of acting in a way that goes against claimed beliefs or feelings
Learn More about hypocrisy
-
See words that rhyme with hypocrisy Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hypocrisy Spanish Central: Translation of hypocrisy Nglish: Translation of hypocrisy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hypocrisy for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up hypocrisy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!