as in pious
disapproving
having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong
a self-righteous tone It's OK to criticize, but don't get self-righteous about it.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-righteous
William is a self-righteous and conspiracy-minded and ruthlessly ambitious man who hides his darker side behind a charming facade.
—
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast.
—E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Her character is annoyingly self-righteous, but also very attractive and seemingly interested in David.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
But her cause, once mocked as intolerant and self-righteous, has been revived by members of today’s conservative Christian movement who warn that homosexuality is a threat to children.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast.
—E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Her character is annoyingly self-righteous, but also very attractive and seemingly interested in David.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
But her cause, once mocked as intolerant and self-righteous, has been revived by members of today’s conservative Christian movement who warn that homosexuality is a threat to children.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
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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
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For pious viewers who may traditionally shy away from the horror genre, The Bondsman may surprise with some very tender and spiritual moments.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the second half becomes increasingly generic conspiracy stuff, leading to a two-part conclusion that’s more smug and sanctimonious than the preceding action can justify.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Nov. 2024
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The Byzantines wrote an amoral flexibility into their system, despite its putative religiosity—a realistic approach that has become more difficult to accomplish in the United States, partly owing to the power of a sanctimonious media establishment.—
Robert D. Kaplan,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Pretending otherwise is dishonest and counter-factual.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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The cruelty of his dishonest sham, founded on disdain for the autistic community and aimed at parents of autistic children, defies decency.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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The story is predictably moralistic and, frankly, more worried about conforming to contemporary mores than accurately representing what was going on in Cuba in the 1950s, dramatically speaking anyway.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Burns had a strained relationship with his own father, and the Salarnos took him in as one of their own.—
Gabriella Demirdjian,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
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Text messages sent in the hours leading up to O’Keefe’s death read aloud to the court by a Massachusetts state trooper show the couple were at a strained point in their relationship.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Make two superficial cross-shaped incisions on the bottom of the tomato.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
1 May 2025
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Today’s discerning travelers prioritize cultural depth, architectural storytelling, and a sense of place over superficial opulence.—
Paul Jebara,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Conclave depicts the Catholic church at an inflection point, with warring political factions proving themselves vain, self-serving, and hypocritical in their pursuit of power.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Kennedy’s hypocritical approach to public health puts us all at risk, warns columnist Robin Abcarian.—
Shelby Grad,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In 2023, Salvati played at Texas’ Kilgore College, collecting 29 tackles with seven sacks and two forced fumbles.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Apr. 2025
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The 6-foot-5, 283-pound prospect had a breakthrough year in 2024, tallying 43 pressures, 4 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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