as in smug
disapproving
having or showing the annoying attitude of people who believe that they are morally better than other people
a holier-than-thou attitude
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Recent Examples of holier-than-thou
And yet, to holier-than-thou doctors like young Ogilvie (Lucas Iverson), Howard is a cautionary tale: a glutton who can’t control himself, a rube who hasn’t heard of Ozempic, and a lazy slouch who can’t manage to drag himself to aqua aerobics.
—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
But there’s a line between analysis and holier-than-thou bloviation.
—
Mara Reinstein,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Nov. 2025
WalletHub made sure that no state walked away feeling entirely holier-than-thou.
—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Aug. 2025
After all, Bill can be a buzzkill, and the Hills’ other neighbors, such as the conspiratorial Dale Gribble across the alley and the holier-than-thou Minh and Kahn Souphanousinphone next door, are flawed too.
—
Adrienne Matei,
The Atlantic,
13 Aug. 2025
And Velia Martínez, who played the Spanish-speaking, holier-than-thou grandmother set in her ways, was born in Tampa, fluent in English and a longtime actress in Mexico and Cuba.
—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Laurie, now adopting her own holier-than-thou perch, is just as bad.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Phillip, Portland, Ore. A: Unlike baseball, with some of its holier-than-thou decisions with its Hall of Fame, the Basketball Hall of Fame largely looks at career on-court achievements.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2025
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
But there’s a line between analysis and holier-than-thou bloviation.
—
Mara Reinstein,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Nov. 2025
WalletHub made sure that no state walked away feeling entirely holier-than-thou.
—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Aug. 2025
After all, Bill can be a buzzkill, and the Hills’ other neighbors, such as the conspiratorial Dale Gribble across the alley and the holier-than-thou Minh and Kahn Souphanousinphone next door, are flawed too.
—
Adrienne Matei,
The Atlantic,
13 Aug. 2025
And Velia Martínez, who played the Spanish-speaking, holier-than-thou grandmother set in her ways, was born in Tampa, fluent in English and a longtime actress in Mexico and Cuba.
—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Laurie, now adopting her own holier-than-thou perch, is just as bad.
—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Phillip, Portland, Ore. A: Unlike baseball, with some of its holier-than-thou decisions with its Hall of Fame, the Basketball Hall of Fame largely looks at career on-court achievements.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for holier-than-thou
Adjective
-
Historian Sandgruber describes how Alois Hitler wrote his 1895 letters in a deeply smug, anti-clerical manner that overestimated his abilities.
-
Li at times plays Cola with a smug impetuousness that belies her naivety about this world to a satisfying degree.
Adjective
-
Later, in a conference room, Pathak and Gupta explained that their seemingly cavalier attitude toward robot welfare was actually motivated by concern for human safety.
-
The Nuggets were particularly cavalier with second-rounders in the 2024 offseason, which turned out to be Booth’s last at the helm.
Adjective
-
Defense witnesses pointed to boastful teens, fireworks-like flashes and uncertain ignition points, with an expert arguing that fireworks were the likely cause and that prosecutors lack proof that a lighter sparked the blaze.
-
Chatter about Azik’s famous delens abounds, as does boastful talk about how Monica Bellucci’s family hails from the same part of Nalchik.
Adjective
-
There is nothing worse than a self-righteous Big J journalist.
-
This admission is met with varying levels of shock and dismay from her three companions, ranging from nervous equivocation from her fiancé to self-righteous anger from Rachel.
Adjective
-
West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
-
Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
Adjective
-
Navy excels at untangling human emotions and picking through them without being didactic or moralistic.
-
Last year, a YouTube channel called Akhbar Enfejari (Explosive News) began posting a variety of digital content with a political and moralistic bent.
Adjective
-
Self-righteous and self-important, priggish and nagging.
-
Only this time the interns are boring Gen Z stereotypes (obsessed with TikTok, too sensitive, too emotional, too self-important).
Cite this Entry
“Holier-than-thou.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/holier-than-thou. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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