as in sanctimoniousness
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Recent Examples of self-righteousness
But where the stalker remains self-deluded to the end, Jack’s self-righteousness is tinged with self-awareness.
—
Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
But Chapman later grew worried that self-righteousness and a hunger for dominance shaped the attitudes of Conservative Resurgence leaders after their movement ended.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Roberts performs as Yale philosophy Professor Alma, the self-righteousness that dazzles in her eyes subjugates Edebiri as Maggie, her self-effacing star pupil.
—Malik Peay, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Such comparisons are too easily drawn, with too much self-righteousness, as though the guilt for what was done to the Jews could be lightened just a little by likening them to their own murderers.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
But Chapman later grew worried that self-righteousness and a hunger for dominance shaped the attitudes of Conservative Resurgence leaders after their movement ended.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
Roberts performs as Yale philosophy Professor Alma, the self-righteousness that dazzles in her eyes subjugates Edebiri as Maggie, her self-effacing star pupil.
—Malik Peay, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
Such comparisons are too easily drawn, with too much self-righteousness, as though the guilt for what was done to the Jews could be lightened just a little by likening them to their own murderers.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteousness
Noun
-
My disappointment in Vigil came down to the waste of a perfect setup for exhibiting the worldly redemption of art—that is, its power to redeem us from insensitivity and self-satisfaction.—
Julius Taranto,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For the most part though, For the First Time, Again is weighed down by oversinging and emotional affectation.—
Millan Verma,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The self-conscious aspiration to hipness here is unfortunate and decidedly not cool, but some may find such affectations quaint.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Later that year, federal prosecutors in New York charged the company’s former CEO Joanna Smith-Griffin, with securities fraud and related offenses tied to investor deception.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
See what happens when jealousy, suspicion and deception take over.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ayala had previously faced claims of lying and excessive force but was not placed on a Milwaukee County District Attorney's list of officers with a history of dishonesty, bias or integrity concerns until recently.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Participants are urged to restrain harmful speech, dishonesty, anger and ego.—
Irfan Sarwar,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The lack of pretentiousness signals something about who’s welcome there.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
29 Nov. 2025
-
There’s a pretentiousness that begins to show itself as folks get more comfortable.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
She has now been sentenced to federal prison to pay for her deceit.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Drama, deceit, and fierce gameplay are the hallmarks of each episode.—
Alison McDermott,
Architectural Digest,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By the early 1950s, many clerics had come to see the Pahlavi monarchy, for all its secular pretensions, as a manageable partner.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The war with Ukraine has revealed the yawning gap between Russia’s pretensions and its capabilities.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, the retort is that this would be irritating and exasperating to be continually deluged with alerts about AI deceptiveness.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteousness. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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