HYPOCRITICAL Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

hypocritical

adjective

ˌhi-pə-ˈkri-ti-kəl

Definition of hypocritical

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

Relevance

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 Bronin’s campaign argued that Larson calling out tech and private equity donations to the former mayor is hypocritical when the congressman has received his own. — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026 Earlier this month, Matsui’s campaign came after Vang for taking corporate donations from Sacramento-area businesses during her city council campaigns, implying that Vang’s vows to not accept money from corporate PACs in her congressional bid is hypocritical. — Mathew Miranda june 4, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026 People are fixating on celebrities of all kinds, accusing singers of body-positive anthems of being hypocritical, rolling their eyes at athletes promoting weight loss drugs and whispering about the thinness of their favorite movie stars. — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 29 May 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for hypocritical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypocritical

Adjective

Is this the same Panthea who hates anyone fake or putting things on?

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
Alongside its launch, Onton released research revealing that current top AI models struggle to filter out fake content and biased reviews—proving that today’s systems simply aren’t built for modern, noisy web environments.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of fake

Adjective

When Debbie, Susan, and Thom come over for a double-date pizza night, only Bret is concerned about the spate of recent home invasions, the missing pets, and the desecration of the griffin mascot.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Jorge Polanco, who snapped an 0-for-26 streak in the third inning with just his second homer of the season, keyed the rally with a two-out double off the left-field wall.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of double

Adjective

But that pledge does little to address the creation of deepfakes themselves, and is meaningless without digital tools that make detecting deepfakes possible.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026
The show also underscores the frustration of meaningless tasks, mirroring widespread disengagement when work lacks clear purpose.

— Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of meaningless

Adjective

The teen's father also has a superficial wound on his hands and has been taken to a hospital, Bradshaw said.

— Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Ultimately, giving employees back their time through initiatives like four-day workweeks is becoming the ultimate luxury, reflecting a shift towards truly valuing employee well-being over superficial office fun.

— Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 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

Murphy, working with Ellis, has expanded the already-strained novel into a nine-episode drama that reaches no conclusion by its finale.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Elsewhere during the trip, Steven and Kacie finally repaired their strained relationship after months of tension.

— Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of strained

Adjective

Along with the heavy-duty foundation raft, the tower consisted of a hollow concrete core running the complete height of the building, tapering from 35 ft (11 m) at the base to 22 ft (7 m) at the top, with a corresponding thinning of the core walls.

— David Szondy August 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
That sounds hollow when women’s basketball players are leading the largest college-athlete union campaign yet.

— Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of hollow

Browse Nearby Words

hypocrites

hypocritical

hypocritically

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hypocritical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypocritical. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hypocritical

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on hypocritical

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

invidious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes