sanctimonious
Say it: sank-tih-MOH-nee-us /ˌsaŋ(k)tɪˈməʊnɪəs/ · adjective
What “sanctimonious” means
Showing off how morally good you think you are.
More precisely: Making a show of being morally superior to others.
Example: “He became sanctimonious about veganism a week after giving up cheese.”
When to use it
A strongly disapproving word for someone who makes a performance of goodness and looks down on other people.
Similar words
self-righteous, holier-than-thou, preachy
Where it comes from
From Latin sanctimonia, 'sanctity', from sanctus 'holy'.
Quick check
Someone announces that only selfish people forget charity donations, then proudly describes their own generosity. Their tone is…
sanctimonious or principled?
Show the answer
sanctimonious
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