sanctimonious

sanctimonious Definition

sanc·ti·mo·ni·ous (saŋk′tə mō′nē əs)

adjective

pretending to be very holy or pious; affecting sanctity or righteousness

Etymology: < sanctimony + -ous

sanctimonious Related Forms

sanc′·ti·mo′·ni·ously adverb sanc′·ti·mo′·ni·ous·ness noun

sanctimonious Synonyms

modif.

self-righteous, pietistic, hypocritical, holier-than-thou*, goody-goody*; see also hypocritical. See syn. study at religious.

sanctimonious Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

prig: But that, on the other hand, doesn't stop her calling the local coroner " a stupid, sanctimonious prig!
hypocrite: Joan calls Dennis and Meg a bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites for trying to get rid of her.
attitude: Accompanying this vicious attack on our party was a sanctimonious attitude that claimed that New Labor was morally superior to the Conservative Party.
posturing: In four single columns he succeeds in puncturing every single piece of sanctimonious posturing vented by Emperor Tony in his sad little speech.
nitwit: Yet at the very moment when they should be decoupled, sanctimonious nitwits are calling for a return to morals based on superstition.
cretin: Kate shrieks at him and calls him a " sanctimonious cretin " .

Modifying Another Word

rather: Somehow holiness has a rather sanctimonious feel to it.
so: I'd be more sympathetic with you if you weren't so sanctimonious about it.
too: Mind you, the Brits canât sound too sanctimonious, what with any number of olde worlde English nostalgia in recent years.

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