as in pious
formal + disapproving
pretending to be morally better than other people
sanctimonious politicians A sanctimonious speech from someone who refused to acknowledge his own past failings.
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Recent Examples of sanctimonious
Forget any sanctimonious spewing sermon about pro sports foolishly believing these types of things would not happen.
—
Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Just enough with the sanctimonious explanations.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Of course, most of these sanctimonious snore-mongers linger on in one shrunken form or another, still screaming obscenities and shaking their fists at the moon.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimonious
Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Just enough with the sanctimonious explanations.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Of course, most of these sanctimonious snore-mongers linger on in one shrunken form or another, still screaming obscenities and shaking their fists at the moon.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctimonious
Adjective
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In his native Paine, a quiet agricultural town just south of Santiago, some residents remember the Kast family fondly as a pious clan who built a successful meat and restaurant business.—
John Bartlett,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
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His political campaign is spinning into high gear, posting videos showing him as a pious governor holding a Bible, praying and hugging pastors.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But the Longhorns' all-time leader in assists and steals also knows that regional assignments are meaningless without first- and second-round wins.—
Danny Davis,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Mar. 2026
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There’s a heartwarming idiocy to their pursuit, yet what festers underneath is their inability to process grief consciously and the fear that those who deem their existence meaningless might be right.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctimonious. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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