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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Recent Examples of self-righteous
In calmer times, a leader expounding from such heights risks sounding preachy and self-righteous.
—
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
In the early days of the drugs’ rollout, a high price tag and a nationwide shortage made off-label A-list users a target of self-righteous mockery.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Open and humorous in person, he was described by critics – and even some supporters – as stubborn, didactic and self-righteous.
—Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
Their reach and impact collectively are far more effective and balanced than the self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
In the early days of the drugs’ rollout, a high price tag and a nationwide shortage made off-label A-list users a target of self-righteous mockery.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2026
Open and humorous in person, he was described by critics – and even some supporters – as stubborn, didactic and self-righteous.
—Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
Their reach and impact collectively are far more effective and balanced than the self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
-
The aim wasn’t to make the chatbot Bible-thumping or pious.—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
26 May 2026
-
Maria, austere and deeply pious, runs the business with an iron hand, obsessed with making the family’s origins forgotten.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s when the movie takes a direction that’s both maudlin in the true sense of the word and ultimately even sanctimonious regarding the heroine’s sudden redemption.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
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The 34-year-old Haim, a successful musician who with just four roles in five quick years has also established herself as one of our most fascinating actresses, plays this turn from cheerful bud to sanctimonious hater perfectly.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Fragmented oversight creates opportunities for dishonest actors to exploit the gaps.—
Sally Pipes,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The election took place amid a surge in violent crime and corruption that has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely view candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, a YouTube channel called Akhbar Enfejari (Explosive News) began posting a variety of digital content with a political and moralistic bent.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Good intentions — and handsome animation — aside, Forevergreen is ultimately too maudlin and moralistic to rank it much higher than this.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Last year, Hernández played in just one rehab game returning from a strained groin.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Large parts of its war effort are now unmanned, the robots, drones, and remotely piloted tanks giving it a sudden, albeit fragile, edge over a lumbering and strained Russian invader.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Yes, people can actually be superficial on social media.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Seek out someone who can go beyond the superficial conversation level and discuss something meaningful.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
People are fixating on celebrities of all kinds, accusing singers of body-positive anthems of being hypocritical, rolling their eyes at athletes promoting weight loss drugs and whispering about the thinness of their favorite movie stars.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
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Yet, the sense of cognitive dissonance that pervades this space can feel blindingly hypocritical.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The French Cour d’appel de Versailles determined that a child could claim against assets located in France even though the decedent had validly designated the succession laws of a foreign country that did not recognize forced heirship.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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Stephen Colbert, Letterman’s successor as host of CBS’s The Late Show for the past 11 years, is leaving his job under more forced, awkward circumstances.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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