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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-righteous
Teddy descends into cruel, self-righteous paranoia, quickly alienating his family — to say nothing of the Maine electorate — in a bid to regain control of his campaign and life.
—
Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Being judgmental was also evaluated very negatively, as it was often perceived as being self-righteous or hypocritical.
—Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024
First up is Denzel Washington as a self-righteous former slave whose revenge plans include matching the beastliness of his captors slash for gash, and those depraved co-emperors Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, whose Kardashian brothers zeal for squeals steals the Colosseum show.
—Steven Gaydos, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
But recent years have marked a subtle shift from self-righteous battles over reputation to less principled conflicts over branding control, like when Kanye West disowned his participation in Coodie & Chike’s 2022 documentary Jeen-Yuhs because he was denied final cut.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Being judgmental was also evaluated very negatively, as it was often perceived as being self-righteous or hypocritical.
—Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024
First up is Denzel Washington as a self-righteous former slave whose revenge plans include matching the beastliness of his captors slash for gash, and those depraved co-emperors Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, whose Kardashian brothers zeal for squeals steals the Colosseum show.
—Steven Gaydos, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
But recent years have marked a subtle shift from self-righteous battles over reputation to less principled conflicts over branding control, like when Kanye West disowned his participation in Coodie & Chike’s 2022 documentary Jeen-Yuhs because he was denied final cut.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
-
The grieving sisters try to uncover the truth about what happened to Grace, and increasingly suspect Roger’s pious, overbearing sister Angelica (Fiona Shaw) of wrongdoing — but turn out to be (mostly) wrong about her intentions.—
Meredith Blake,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement Nazanin goes through the same preparations as Salme, who has turned supremely pious in the intervening years, and Zari, who has grown more level-headed, not to say jaded.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But the second half becomes increasingly generic conspiracy stuff, leading to a two-part conclusion that’s more smug and sanctimonious than the preceding action can justify.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Nov. 2024
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The Byzantines wrote an amoral flexibility into their system, despite its putative religiosity—a realistic approach that has become more difficult to accomplish in the United States, partly owing to the power of a sanctimonious media establishment.—
Robert D. Kaplan,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Perhaps Simpson’s most dishonest claim was that Social Security’s drafters deliberately set the retirement age at 65 because life expectancy in 1935, at the time of enactment, was 63.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
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Higher-ups and colleagues see through the charade as dishonest.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The story is predictably moralistic and, frankly, more worried about conforming to contemporary mores than accurately representing what was going on in Cuba in the 1950s, dramatically speaking anyway.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
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The United States has flipped from a moralistic benefactor to a transactional predator of Kyiv’s resources.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This includes evaluating how alternate energy sources can supplement strained grids, especially in regions where rapid economic expansion may outpace existing energy infrastructure.—
Whitaker Irvin Jr.,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article GLENDALE, Ariz. — Austin Slater became the latest Chicago White Sox outfielder slowed by an injury after he was scratched from Monday’s lineup because of a strained left oblique.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The nurse sustained a superficial wound to his cheek and was treated off of the island, officials said.—
Graham Rayman,
New York Daily News,
15 Mar. 2025
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Consumers and fans connect with authenticity, not a superficial redesign.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Schimel campaign called the Wisconsin Democrats’ efforts hypocritical, referencing reporting that Crawford participated in a donor advisory briefing.—
Caroline Vakil,
The Hill,
10 Mar. 2025
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But spending taxpayer money for anything short of necessities comes off as hypocritical, at best, especially for Trump, as his administration guts federal agencies — including those Central Floridians rely on during times of their greatest need.—
The Orlando Sentinel and Santa Cruz Sentinel editorial boards,
Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Giulia greets them all with forced enthusiasm, already fraying at the edges.—
Martine Paris,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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With its forced bonhomie, the show is neither informative nor engaging.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
The Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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