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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-righteous
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
His parents, one a co-leader in the 1980s of South Central’s Black-Korean Coalition, the other a union organizer, push back on his self-righteous idealism.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
Dillahunt will play modern cowboy William Macon, a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-righteous 
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
His parents, one a co-leader in the 1980s of South Central’s Black-Korean Coalition, the other a union organizer, push back on his self-righteous idealism.
—Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
Dillahunt will play modern cowboy William Macon, a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
-
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
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If some punters were irritatingly pious, many also had the time of their life.—
Martin McKenzie-Murray,
SPIN,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Each is open-minded and empathetic, though neither is sanctimonious about those qualities.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
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Unmatched in its warmth, its delightful disposition, its ability to inspire you—not with high fashion or sanctimonious pontificating or streets walled with money—but just by being its easy, sunny self.—
Allure Editors,
Allure,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Some people were outright hostile to his presence, perhaps because solar bros are widely stereotyped as dishonest.—
Brendan I. Koerner,
WIRED,
13 Jan. 2025
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But the state’s Retained Risk Account does not cover any dishonest, fraudulent, criminal or malicious act, according to the document.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Cigarettes were first popularized in a more moralistic era.—
Cal Newport,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
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How Polarizing Messaging Hurt DEI DEI often positioned itself as a solution to deep social problems, but its prescriptive and moralistic tone alienated some employees and customers.—
Gillian Oakenfull,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The team announced Wednesday that Randle has a strained adductor and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
-
Randle also is out for the next few weeks because of a strained groin.—
Jon Krawczynski,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Even seemingly superficial exchanges have deeper meaning. Need a break?—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
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What’s emanating out of her is this quiet, intense truth, coupled with this incredible, superficial vulnerability.—
William Earl,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Shifting from New York to Texas Lively and Reynolds (whose blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine has been dragged directly into this with a January 7 evidence preservation letter sent to Disney and Marvel over the hypocritical Nicepool character) opened up a likely new legal front in Hays County, Texas.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
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Senator Markwayne Mullin, Republican of Oklahoma, accused Democrats of being hypocritical for saying Mr. Hegseth was unqualified to lead the Pentagon because he had been intoxicated and cheated on his wife.—
Helene Cooper,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Customs officials today collect tariff revenue, but also monitor food safety, enforce intellectual property rights, inspect crops for pests and screen imports for goods made with forced labor, Mr. Foote said.—
Ana Swanson,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2025
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One bill, which House Ways and Means advanced in a bipartisan vote last year, would require an investigation into forced and child labor at cobalt mining sites in Congo.—
Nick Sobczyk,
Axios,
15 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near self-righteous
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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