SELF-RIGHTEOUS Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

self-righteous

adjective

Definition of self-righteous

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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of self-righteous This admission is met with varying levels of shock and dismay from her three companions, ranging from nervous equivocation from her fiancé to self-righteous anger from Rachel. — Megan McCluskey, Time, 3 Apr. 2026 The only certainty in these films is that the self-righteous Optimus Prime will always preach some long-winded, sleep-inducing monologue at the end of the movie before a radio-friendly Linkin Park or Imagine Dragons song blares over the credits. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026 In the novel, the servant Joseph is a self-righteous zealot who’s always banging on about the Bible. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026 Undoubtedly, Bezos believes that all the criticism that has come his way is naïve, self-righteous, and terribly unfair. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for self-righteous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous

Adjective

Philemon and Baucis, a pious Phrygian couple, hospitably received the disguised Zeus and Hermes after their richer neighbors had refused to do so.

— Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 July 2026
This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

Definition of pious

Adjective

There are few things in this world more sanctimonious and hypocritical than left-wing sportswriters getting on their faux moral high horse.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 June 2026
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

Definition of sanctimonious

Adjective

But 52% of employees in that same study believe their company's efforts to be empathetic are dishonest.

— Dennis Kozak, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
The state agency said clinic staffers had clients sign a personal injury waiver, which the commission said was unenforceable, against public policy and deceptive and dishonest.

— Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026

Definition of dishonest

Adjective

Navy excels at untangling human emotions and picking through them without being didactic or moralistic.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026
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

Definition of moralistic

Adjective

Pitcher Stephen Kolek will seek a second opinion on his strained right flexor, and outfielder Kyle Isbel is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha.

— Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
These nations, highly dependent on food imports and lacking adequate climate finance, are experiencing rising food prices and strained supply chains.

— Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of strained

Adjective

Ferrell, Henchy and David Gordon Green all previously worked on Eastbound & Down, a sports comeback series with enough superficial similarities to underline how toothless The Hawk and especially its characters are.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Screenings are inconsistent or superficial, resulting in a lack of follow-up for people with problematic drinking.

— Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2026

Definition of superficial

Adjective

Given Holzinger’s notoriety, and her own ironic relationship to extremes, her use of trigger warnings, posted before every performance, may seem beside the point, or even hypocritical.

— Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Bronin’s campaign argued that Larson calling out tech and private equity donations to the former mayor is hypocritical when the congressman has received his own.

— Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2026