Sanctimonious - English meaning

adjective

(of a person) excessively pious and often narrow-minded.

Usage examples:

I was famous for being churchy and stuck-up

noun

Someone who is too ready to behave in a way intended to please people in authority

Usage examples:

She’s a real goody-goody – i hate her!

adjective

Behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.

Usage examples:

We don't go to church and we thought it would be hypocritical to have him christened

adjective

Saying that you have particular moral beliefs but behaving in a way that shows these are not sincere

Usage examples:

Their accusations of corruption are hypocritical - they have been just as corrupt themselves.

adjective

Not expressing genuine feelings.

Usage examples:

She flashed him an insincere smile

adjective

Not feeling, believing, or meaning something although you pretend to; not sincere

Usage examples:

An insincere promise/offer, there’s often a bit of insincerity in these speeches.

adjective

Not brave enough to say what you mean directly and honestly

Usage examples:

Mealy-mouthed excuses, a mealy-mouthed spokesperson

noun

The action of commenting on issues of right and wrong, typically with an unfounded air of superiority.

Usage examples:

The self-righteous moralizing of his aunt was ringing in his ears

adjective

Having or displaying an overly critical point of view on issues of right and wrong, typically with an unfounded air of superiority.

Usage examples:

He was given to moralizing speeches

verb

Comment on issues of right and wrong, typically with an unfounded air of superiority.

Usage examples:

The solution to climate change is not to moralize from on high

noun

The sixteenth letter of the greek alphabet (π, π), transliterated as ‘p’.

Usage examples:

This is true of no other letter of the alphabet except pi, and here the name is a natural developme…

symbol

The sixteenth letter of the greek alphabet ( π, π ), transliterated as ‘p’.

adjective

Short for pious.

adjective

Devoutly religious.

Usage examples:

A deeply pious woman

adjective

Strongly believing in god or a particular religion, and living in a way that shows this belief

adjective

Self-righteously moralistic and superior.

Usage examples:

A priggish little pedant

adjective

Like a prig

Usage examples:

I found him priggish and cold.

adjective

Believing that you are better and more moral than other people, often expressed in an annoying or offensive way

Usage examples:

Spare us from your self-righteous nonsense.

adjective

Having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements.

Usage examples:

He was feeling smug after his win

adjective

Higher in rank, status, or quality.

Usage examples:

A superior officer

noun

A person superior to another in rank or status, especially a colleague in a higher position.

Usage examples:

Obeying their superiors' orders

adjective

Better than average, or better than others of the same type

Usage examples:

They were clearly the superior team., some people think acoustic recordings are superior to digital…

adjective

Excessively flattering or ingratiating; oily.

Usage examples:

He seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way

adjective

Unctuous people or behaviour expresses too much praise, interest, friendliness, etc., in a way that is false and unpleasant

Usage examples:

His unctuous manner/voice/smile