hypocrite

noun

hyp·​o·​crite ˈhi-pə-ˌkrit How to pronounce hypocrite (audio)
1
: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion
2
: a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings
hypocrite adjective

Examples of hypocrite in a Sentence

We can learn a good deal about the manners and morals of the times from Lautrec, for he was neither a hypocrite nor a sentimentalist, and there is a matter-of-fact-ness about his vision … that precludes both nostalgia and prurience. Elizabeth Cowling, Times Literary Supplement, 8 Nov. 1991
Holding up high moral, ethical, and social standards is very difficult, because if one falls short of being a perfect example, one becomes a target and a hypocrite, albeit a well-meaning one. Mark Masters et al., New Dimensions, June 1990
Of all of these things and people Cilla knew nothing, nor could he tell her, yet he tried to show interest in what she had to tell him. Once he would have been very interested. Now he felt like a hypocrite, and because he was uncomfortable he blamed it in some way on Cilla. Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain, 1943
the hypocrites who criticize other people for not voting but who don't always vote themselves
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The pardon now gives Trump and his allies the opportunity to call Biden a hypocrite and proceed having their own way with the law. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 Those who argue in favor of the killing of some innocent people but against the killing of other innocent people —such as those who justify the unprovoked mass murders of Oct. 7 but condemn Israel’s self-defense measures — should be exposed as hypocrites. Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 22 Dec. 2024 These protestors are fighting for a hypocrite, not a hero. Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 Such tales enabled them to charge that abolitionists were hypocrites who ignored the plight of England’s factory workers. Gunther Peck / Made By History, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hypocrite 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ypocrite, borrowed from Anglo-French ipocrite, borrowed from Late Latin hypocrita, borrowed from Greek hypokritḗs "answerer, actor on a stage, pretender," from hypokri-, variant stem of hypokrī́nomai, hypokrī́nesthai "to reply, make an answer, speak in dialogue, play a part on the stage, feign" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at hypocrisy

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypocrite was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near hypocrite

Cite this Entry

“Hypocrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrite. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

hypocrite

noun
hyp·​o·​crite ˈhip-ə-ˌkrit How to pronounce hypocrite (audio)
1
: a person who pretends to have virtues or qualities that he or she does not have
2
: a person whose actions contradict their stated beliefs or feelings
hypocritical
ˌhip-ə-ˈkrit-i-kəl
adjective
hypocritically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!