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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sanctimonious
Each is open-minded and empathetic, though neither is sanctimonious about those qualities.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Unmatched in its warmth, its delightful disposition, its ability to inspire you—not with high fashion or sanctimonious pontificating or streets walled with money—but just by being its easy, sunny self.
—Allure Editors, Allure, 17 Jan. 2025
He was seen by some, then and later, as prickly and sanctimonious.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024
The league, however, does not consider alcohol a performance enhancer, and only the most sanctimonious of voters would hold those challenges against him.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimonious
Judy Berman, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
Unmatched in its warmth, its delightful disposition, its ability to inspire you—not with high fashion or sanctimonious pontificating or streets walled with money—but just by being its easy, sunny self.
—Allure Editors, Allure, 17 Jan. 2025
He was seen by some, then and later, as prickly and sanctimonious.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024
The league, however, does not consider alcohol a performance enhancer, and only the most sanctimonious of voters would hold those challenges against him.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctimonious
Adjective
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Ahmad’s pious cousin Ibrahim insists that Hassan must be killed.—
David Remnick,
The New Yorker,
3 Aug. 2024
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Each letter comes across as a set piece, a small achievement of style and tone: Vasari’s flowery, deferential missives to the duke, Maria’s youthful ardor and confusion, the overly pious cattiness of a nun.—
Chelsea Leu,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Spraying meaningless reactions across your feed does nothing for your business.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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This team might be torn apart in the next few months and forgotten to history, a meaningless row in a basketball reference page.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sanctimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctimonious. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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