Synonyms of sanctimonious

sanctimonious

adjective

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pious
• meaningless
• hollow
• moralistic
• strained
• superficial
• hypocritical
• pharisaical
• dishonest
• self-righteous
• fake
• holier-than-thou
• unctuous
• insincere
• false
• phoney
• forced
• canting
• phony
• simon-pure
• double
• mechanical
• feigned
• contrived
• goody-goody
• backhanded
• unnatural
• sham
• artificial
• lip
• phony-baloney
• counterfeit
• phoney-baloney
• mealy
• pretended
• jive
• two-faced
• rectitudinous
• simulated
• double-dealing
• assumed
• deceitful
• mealymouthed
• claptrap
• double-faced
• empty
• affected
• glib
• Janus-faced
• untruthful
• put-on
• devious
• Pecksniffian
• facile
• left-handed
• bogus
• facetious
• jocular
• tongue-in-cheek
• campy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincere
• genuine
• honest
• heartfelt
• artless
• candid
• unfeigned
• direct
• forthright
• plain
• frank
• straightforward
• open
• undesigning
• heart-to-heart

Examples of sanctimonious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Of all the pillars of internet content, surely one of the strongest is the genre where people outline their morning routine in grave and sanctimonious detail. —Constance Grady, Vox, 6 June 2024

By contrast, China has been less sanctimonious, delivering aid and investment without the burdensome conditions placed on Western aid. —Kishore Mahbubani, Foreign Affairs, 28 Feb. 2023

Both moments are a shock to the sanctimonious, liberal-racist Hollywood system. —Armond White, National Review, 27 Mar. 2024

But after a whiny Netflix documentary, a whiny biography (‘Spare’ — even the title is a pouty gripe) and an inert podcast, the Harry and Meghan brand swelled into a sanctimonious bubble just begging to be popped — and ‘South Park’ was the pin. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2024

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