Sanctimonious

Characterized by a display of piety or moral superiority, often in a way that is considered excessive or hypocritical. Sanctimonious individuals tend to make a show of their religious devotion or moral goodness, sometimes to an exaggerated degree, with an underlying implication of judgment or disapproval towards others. This behavior often stems from a sense of self-righteousness, and can be perceived as insincere or offensive, particularly when those displaying the behavior are themselves flawed or imperfect.

Sanctimonious meaning with examples

• The politician's Sanctimonious speeches about family values were met with skepticism, as his own personal life had been marred by several scandals. His constant pronouncements seemed less about genuine concern and more about maintaining a public image. He preached about honesty while carefully concealing his own transgressions, making his words ring hollow.
• After the church deacon’s recent embezzlement scandal, the congregation was shocked and horrified by the Sanctimonious attitude displayed by other church members. Their judgmental comments and self-righteous condemnations felt hypocritical, as they focused on the deacon's sin while conveniently ignoring their own imperfections.
• The author's Sanctimonious tone in his self-help book grated on readers. Instead of offering genuine advice and support, he often made declarative statements, making readers feel inadequate and judged. His condescending attitude and air of superiority undermined any positive message he may have wanted to convey.
• Her Sanctimonious posts on social media about environmental conservation felt disingenuous, given her frequent shopping sprees and lavish lifestyle. Her followers were quick to point out the hypocrisy of preaching conservation while living in a way that clearly contradicted her words.
• He found it difficult to listen to the professor's Sanctimonious lectures about academic integrity because he knew the professor had previously plagiarized his dissertation. The professor's self-righteousness made it difficult to trust his words, and his actions seemed hypocritical.