hypocritical

adjective

ˌhi-pə-ˈkri-ti-kəl How to pronounce hypocritical (audio)
Definition of hypocriticalnext
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express it's hypocritical to say mean things behind someone's back, and then to act nice when you want something from her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hypocritical But, resonance can backfire, as seen in the widespread criticism of the recent Met Gala’s hypocritical celebrity excess. — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026 The lawsuit also alleged Cameron’s actions were hypocritical of his films’ messaging and detailed public backlash Cameron and the films faced for its depictions of Native groups. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026 How hypocritical that of me, Amy, and Gretchen, the only one married is me. — David Sedaris, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 That’s not just awkward; that’s hypocritical. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hypocritical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypocritical
  1. fake
  2. double
  3. meaningless
  4. superficial
  5. lip
  6. insincere
  7. strained
  8. hollow
Adjective
  • Beware of the stalls selling fake leather or souvenirs made in China.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026
  • Tired of spending his days simply delighting in psychological torture and revenge, Lestat publicly chases the life of a famous rock star, writing and producing an album and performing in a cross-country tour while maintaining a fake vampire persona.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2026
Definition of fake
Adjective
  • Ildemaro Vargas walked on four pitches with one out, swiped second and scored on a 75-mph ball that Gabriel Moreno dumped down the right-field line for a double.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • The visitors had two hits before that, one of which was a two-out double by Mike Yastrzemski off the right field wall before Bart’s game-changing at-bat.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of double
Adjective
  • One sure focus is the rampant grade inflation that exaggerates student achievement and has made graduating high school close to meaningless as an indicator of college preparedness.
    — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
  • This distinction between meaningful and meaningless data evokes signal versus noise, a communication concept formulated by the mathematician Claude Shannon.
    — Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of meaningless
Adjective
  • Examples like sales phone time or the Wells Fargo scandal illustrate how focusing solely on numbers can distort behavior, leading to superficial achievements or even unethical practices.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • The performances of those groups might have resembled one another in some superficial way, but the individual politics of each do matter and shouldn’t be lumped together on account of aesthetics.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 7 July 2026
Definition of superficial
Adjective
  • Likewise, lip masks designed to be worn overnight can provide improved hydration and comfort over daytime treatments.
    — Caroline Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • On the opposite end of the spectrum, Tatianna points to cinnamon as a conductor of heat—one commonly used in lip plumper products to achieve a sultry pout.
    — Essence, Essence, 23 Nov. 2025
Definition of lip
Adjective
  • Not everyone believes, however, that the line is insincere.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • And so, open door policies rarely fail because leaders are insincere.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of insincere
Adjective
  • Trout, who missed 17 games due to a strained right hamstring, hit a 438-foot shot that gave the Angels an 11-0 lead in the eighth.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • After years of strained public services, supply and food shortages and poverty, nearly 8 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance before the earthquakes hit.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Definition of strained
Adjective
  • In the second year, a hollow stalk with purple spots grows 5 to 10 feet tall.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • However, most other teams’ fall rosters were already filled by then, Elschot said, making these promises seem hollow and unrealistic.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of hollow

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Cite this Entry

“Hypocritical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypocritical. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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