hypocritical

adjective

hyp·​o·​crit·​i·​cal ˌhi-pə-ˈkri-ti-kəl 

: characterized by behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel : characterized by hypocrisy

a hypocritical attitude/argument

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 whose actions are contrary to their stated beliefs or feelings : being a hypocrite

… is famous for his … acidic takedowns of craven and hypocritical politicians.

—Brett Lang

hypocritically

ˌhi-pə-ˈkri-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of hypocritical

• fake
• double
• meaningless
• superficial
• lip
• insincere
• strained
• hollow
• pretended
• artificial
• unnatural
• backhanded
• pious

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 on the Web

The tech entrepreneur, who founded a fitness app and a financial management platform catering to young and wealthy customers, also characterizes Khanna’s stock trading as hypocritical since the congressman campaigns on easing inequality. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026

The permanent observer of the 22-nation Arab League, Maged Abdelaziz, suggested Israel was being hypocritical in justifying its military attack by saying it was intended to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. —Edith M. Lederer, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026

A lot of the other complaints about Cluely seem similarly hypocritical. —Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026

Former Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon called it hypocritical. —Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

hypocritic "of a hypocrite" (borrowed from Medieval Latin hypocriticus, borrowed from Greek hypokritikós "of acting, skilled in rhetorical delivery," from hypokritḗs "answerer, actor on a stage" + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1 — more at hypocrite

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hypocritical

• analytical
• apolitical
• diacritical
• hypercritical
• nonpolitical
• parasitical
• supercritical
• critical
• geopolitical
• levitical
• noncritical
• political