sanctimony
noun
sanc·ti·mo·ny
ˈsaŋ(k)-tə-ˌmō-nē 
plural sanctimonies
1
obsolete
: holiness
2
: affected or hypocritical holiness
Examples of sanctimony in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nobody can foresee all of the ways any AI product might be used, for good or ill, but that’s exactly why Anthropic’s sanctimony can seem silly.
—
Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
This is where the sanctimony and the moralizing comes in.
—Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
His Tartuffe doesn’t try to curry favor or even stand on sanctimony.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
That’s not to denigrate Punch, which is solidly built and well-meaning without sanctimony.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
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Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
This is where the sanctimony and the moralizing comes in.
—Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
His Tartuffe doesn’t try to curry favor or even stand on sanctimony.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
That’s not to denigrate Punch, which is solidly built and well-meaning without sanctimony.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimony
Cite this Entry
“Sanctimony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanctimony. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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