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
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
The book hinges on a conflict between self-righteous Burghers, who live in cities, and resentful, paranoid rural people known as Yeomen.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 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.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
But Democrats want someone who fights back rather than gives self-righteous marathon speeches or just fades away.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The book hinges on a conflict between self-righteous Burghers, who live in cities, and resentful, paranoid rural people known as Yeomen.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 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.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
But Democrats want someone who fights back rather than gives self-righteous marathon speeches or just fades away.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
-
Singh, who would be our local guide, always wore the five traits of a pious Sikh man — uncut hair (symbolizing strength and holiness and topped by the identifying turban), a steel bracelet, wooden comb, sheathed dagger and a baggy undergarment dating back to the Sikhs’ warrior days on horses.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In the old days, when Muslims had a great civilization, their smart and pious people also got paid for being smart and pious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The spiral of events that follow ups the pathos while quietly commenting on rigid patriarchal rules, male privilege, sanctimonious moral posturing, the denial of women’s bodily autonomy and contempt for otherness, things all still very much with us today.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
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There’s nothing sanctimonious about insisting on civil rights for transgender people nor about fighting for racial justice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In The Corner That Held Them, rarely does desire raise its head as the nuns busy themselves with dishonest bishops, honest con men, collapsing spires, inconclusive visions, ecclesiastical intrigues, catty infighting, attempts at levitation, and the plague.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
14 Feb. 2026
-
That doesn't mean the dealer is dishonest, though.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The United States went to war in 2001 and 2003 with a very moralistic, very crusading view of war, a very black-and-white view that there were good guys and bad guys, and America would wield the swift sword of justice.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
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To rebuild a consensus, politicians must thus appeal to these swing voters by eschewing moralistic and globalist rhetoric.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
As Derya and Aziz’s hypocrisies, as upper-class intellectuals, are increasingly brought to the fore, Namal and Biçer’s conversational performances grow haggard and strained.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Gregg Phillips, an associate administrator at FEMA, said at a hearing this week that its disaster relief fund has sufficient balances to continue emergency response activities during a shutdown, but would become seriously strained in the event of a catastrophic disaster.—
Mary Clare Jalonick,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The same can be said of Schneeberger and Neibaur’s volume, a read that, like its subject, exhibits a breezy superficial charm before giving way to genuine depth and multiple rewards.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2026
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But Sonnet 130 may very well be the most popular for its testament to genuine love as opposed to superficial infatuation.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Judges could reason the NCAA interpreting rules to allow pros from some leagues, but not others, is hypocritical and arbitrary.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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And if you’re inspired to take some meaningful, not at all hypocritical action against book bans, there are plenty of ways to get plugged in with Authors Against Book Bans.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Klein, whom federal prosecutors say was also known within the organization as Prophetess, is specifically charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor, which has a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The company is taking part in a new, forced partnership with rival Exxon, which first made the Guyana discovery a decade ago—arguably the largest oil find this century.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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