as in moralistic
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Recent Examples of pharisaical
Lists are no substitute for criticism, but those who take them as inimical to criticism are pharisaical.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2022
David and Samuel explore the U.S. energy sector and evaluate what the future holds in an ESG landscape that has done its very best to bring economic incoherence to its pharisaical agenda.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Jan. 2022
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2022
David and Samuel explore the U.S. energy sector and evaluate what the future holds in an ESG landscape that has done its very best to bring economic incoherence to its pharisaical agenda.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pharisaical
Adjective
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The heroine of Mansfield Park, Fanny Price, is the most moralistic young person in her household (and the most ignored).—
Emily Zarevich,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Sep. 2025
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What matters is a heavy focus on aesthetic and moralistic perfection.—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Just enough with the sanctimonious explanations.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
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The point here was clear for those who chose to listen: the President doesn’t care one bit about all those sanctimonious calls for healing.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The mobius-thinking at times almost seems like Medieval Zen, what with the emphasis on emptiness and silent meditation, and in fact that was what the Church fathers objected to most: too much quiet, solitary contemplation, not enough pious instruction.—
Jon Raymond
August 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
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This may well sound like something that would’ve been played as a pious Christian allegory in another era.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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However, his latest mistake is very hypocritical and raises some questions about double standards in his coaching.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Most of these hypocritical legislators are near the completion of their involvement in the Capitol thanks to term limits.—
John Moorlach,
Oc Register,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, Comey being a self-righteous dork is not an excuse for Trump to sic the DOJ on him.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Sep. 2025
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The United States might start to see itself as others do—self-righteous, hypocritical, futile—tire of its own platitudes and lies, and consider a change.—
Hussein Agha,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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WalletHub made sure that no state walked away feeling entirely holier-than-thou.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
19 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Just don't glaze because that's heaping someone with excessive and insincere praise.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
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The last time the Trump administration threatened to escalate in a manner that would have outstripped its predecessor, was to implement secondary sanctions against India and China for buying Russian oil – in response to months of insincere Russian diplomacy.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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To achieve her extremely light displacement, the ClubSwan125 has a deep canting keel to reduce weight and increase righting moment.—
Bill Springer,
Forbes,
6 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Pharisaical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pharisaical. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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