Definition of hypocritical
: characterized by behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel : characterized by hypocrisy said that it was hypocritical to demand respect from students without respecting them in return a hypocritical gesture of modesty and virtue — Robert Graves; also : being a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings : being a hypocrite
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of hypocritical in a Sentence
it's hypocritical to say mean things behind someone's back, and then to act nice when you want something from her
Recent Examples of hypocritical from the Web
-
In the trans community, it is known as going stealth, a decision that can feel hypocritical to children who have been told again and again that there is nothing wrong with them.
-
Cole rapped about a hypocritical society only interested in money and fame.
-
Legalising abortion was the defining defeat of the old order—censorious, hypocritical, male—in post-war France.
-
Born six years after Feydeau, Edmond Rostand’s play tacitly indicts the decadent and hypocritical world in which both men wrote by turning to an idealized past of heroes embodying our best selves.
-
The American way is to be part of a system that is hypocritical at best, even if a Facebook rant by a brother looking to get his turns out to be just that.
-
Audi AG’s big game spot promoting pay equity for women also drew blowback—some called it antimale propaganda while others said the auto maker, with an all-male board, was being hypocritical.
-
Azam said Stuart accepting Brodeur’s contribution is hypocritical.
-
This was a campaign-style speech and the message couldn’t have been clearer: The Paris climate deal was pushed by hypocritical cosmopolitan elites.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hypocritical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of hypocritical
see hypocrite
Learn More about hypocritical
-
See words that rhyme with hypocritical Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hypocritical Spanish Central: Translation of hypocritical Nglish: Translation of hypocritical for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of hypocritical for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up hypocritical? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!