Synonyms of sanctimonious

sanctimonious

adjective

as in pious

formal + disapproving pretending to be morally better than other people

sanctimonious politicians

A sanctimonious speech from someone who refused to acknowledge his own past failings.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pious
• meaningless
• hollow
• moralistic
• strained
• superficial
• hypocritical
• pharisaical
• dishonest
• self-righteous
• fake
• holier-than-thou
• unctuous
• insincere
• false
• phoney
• forced
• canting
• phony
• simon-pure
• double
• mechanical
• feigned
• contrived
• goody-goody
• backhanded
• unnatural
• sham
• artificial
• lip
• phony-baloney
• counterfeit
• phoney-baloney
• mealy
• pretended
• jive
• two-faced
• rectitudinous
• simulated
• double-dealing
• assumed
• deceitful
• mealymouthed
• claptrap
• double-faced
• empty
• affected
• glib
• Janus-faced
• untruthful
• put-on
• devious
• Pecksniffian
• facile
• left-handed
• bogus
• facetious
• jocular
• tongue-in-cheek
• campy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sincere
• genuine
• honest
• heartfelt
• artless
• candid
• unfeigned
• direct
• forthright
• plain
• frank
• straightforward
• open
• undesigning
• heart-to-heart

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of sanctimonious

Most of this managed to come off both lazy and sanctimonious. —David Polansky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 12 July 2024

Nope — those three sanctimonious defenders of our democracy are all down with the deep-state’s diminution of our democracy. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 24 June 2024

There’s never anything sanctimonious or preachy about it. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 21 June 2024

Of all the pillars of internet content, surely one of the strongest is the genre where people outline their morning routine in grave and sanctimonious detail. —Constance Grady, Vox, 6 June 2024

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