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
This is usually where the self-righteous defenders of Trump’s blatantly unconstitutional tactics insist that the protections of the Constitution only apply to U.S. citizens.
—
Nisha Whitehead, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025
William is a self-righteous and conspiracy-minded and ruthlessly ambitious man who hides his darker side behind a charming facade.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast.
—E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Her character is annoyingly self-righteous, but also very attractive and seemingly interested in David.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Nisha Whitehead, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025
William is a self-righteous and conspiracy-minded and ruthlessly ambitious man who hides his darker side behind a charming facade.
—Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025
Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast.
—E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Her character is annoyingly self-righteous, but also very attractive and seemingly interested in David.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
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The baron and his pious daughter seem at peace with their mutual estrangement until Zsa-zsa suddenly decides to break that habit.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2025
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But while the main character’s mother in that movie was an antagonistic figure, Fatima’s parents are portrayed as kind, not dogmatic or ostentatiously pious.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The sanctimonious proto-Communist bait of Good Night, and Good Luck Activist-actor George Clooney confirms his hyphenate status by adapting his vapid 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck for the Broadway stage.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
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The sanctimonious Trudeau, a lightning rod for the anti-woke backlash that exists even in Canada, resigned.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There's also research showing that AI agents can easily be subversive, self-serving and dishonest in their actions.—
Lisa Loud,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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That’s a fact, so saying otherwise is dishonest and can lead to confusion.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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Aster isn’t merely mocking them; his real point is that moralistic self-righteousness has become a kind of addiction in America.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 May 2025
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But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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His strained, sandpaper-coarse timbre served as an ideal conduit for songs concerned with boisterous revelries, shady agreements, licentious intentions and musical pleasures.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
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During a father-son fishing trip alongside Dawson and his dad (John Wesley Shipp), Pacey's strained relationship with his parent bubbles up.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Full look: Burberry; socks: stylist’s own Gorka Postigo The phenomenon of celebrities speaking out about current events can sometimes feel superficial, but Ramsey is quick to affirm the opposite of Pascal.—
Peyton Dix,
Them.,
27 May 2025
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Some journalists refused to use AI for anything more than superficial interview transcription, while others use it broadly, to edit text, answer research questions, summarize large bodies of science text, or search massive troves of data for salient bits of information.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Kathleen O’Leary, Boca Raton Get a mirror, Marco The Republican Party is the most hypocritical group of politicians this country has ever seen, and Marco Rubio its biggest hypocrite of all.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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If that strikes you as a little suspicious, maybe even hypocritical, well, have both Bechdels got a book for you.—
Sam Thielman,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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The linebacker has posted 302 tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions, 17 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, and 40 tackles for loss.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
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As a senior, Robinson recorded 42 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
11 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
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