pharisaical

Examples 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 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 Yet Marlin makes clear that excommunication was never a real threat but rather one that Cuomo shrewdly used to turn himself into a victim of pharisaical bishops. Vincent J. Cannato, National Review, 7 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pharisaical
Adjective
  • As if predicting this kind of encounter, Kyunghee is moralistic about Sunja’s decision to let Mozasu work in what is seen as an ignoble business, the haunt of gangsters and ne’er-do-wellers.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2024
  • These are not virtues in a moralistic sense but, rather, habits of excellence inspired by definitions from ancient philosophy.
    Sarah Elk, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Trolls claim to be puncturing pieties, saving the sanctimonious from themselves.
    Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024
  • Fiennes is backed by a stellar supporting cast that, in addition to Tucci's firebrand Bellini, included John Lithgow as a sanctimonious curate and Carlos Diehz as Cardinal Benitez, intriguing and comforting in his calm stillness.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • And yet something about her pious active listening face really gets to Urs.
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Paxton, pious to the end, responds by talking about the Great Prayer Experiment, a (very real) series of studies that sought to test whether prayer has any tangible healing impact — and conclusively found there to be not.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • McKissic writes that evangelical leaders' acceptance of Trump despite his alleged immoral conduct is hypocritical, contrasting it with their past condemnation of former President Bill Clinton's indiscretions.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Some even pointed to an interview Yang recently conducted with the pop star for Interview magazine, claiming that his comments seemed hypocritical in hindsight given the nature of his SNL performance.
    Stephen Daw, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • His parents, one a co-leader in the 1980s of South Central’s Black-Korean Coalition, the other a union organizer, push back on his self-righteous idealism.
    Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Dillahunt will play modern cowboy William Macon, a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The story prompted an uproar from fans of Michigan’s Big Ten opponents, who saw Harbaugh as a cheater and Michigan’s holier-than-thou image as a fraud, and urged commissioner Tony Petitti to take action.
    Austin Meek, The Athletic, 8 Aug. 2024
  • In scenes together, Cooke’s arch line deliveries and holier-than-thou smirks spark against D’Arcy’s regal defensiveness and cool anger.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 June 2024
Adjective
  • However, the 5:1 ratio may fall flat if these buffers are insincere.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
  • For all the cocksure posturing and self-aware voguing, Usher avoided coming across as arrogant, insincere or unapproachable.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy.
    Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024
  • For cooking the aromatic vegetables, but also dotted overtop, butter seeps into the breadcrumbs and crisps up the top for an unctuous, golden bite.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near pharisaical

Cite this Entry

“Pharisaical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pharisaical. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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