hypocrisy
noun
hy·poc·ri·sy
hi-ˈpä-krə-sē 
also hī-
plural hypocrisies
1
: a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel
His hypocrisy was finally revealed with the publication of his private letters.
especially
: the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
our conventional morality often serves as a cover for hypocrisy and selfishness —
Lucius Garvin
Lucius Garvin 2
: an act or instance of hypocrisy
a keen awareness of one's parents' hypocrisies
Examples of hypocrisy in a Sentence
When his private letters were made public, they revealed his hypocrisy.
the hypocrisy of people who say one thing but do another
Teenagers often have a keen awareness of their parents' hypocrisies.
Recent Examples on the Web
That kind of hypocrisy on self-enrichment could become a weak point for the GOP and a clear opening for Democrats to attack.
—Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2025
But that stumble constitutes Hwang’s only confrontation with the hypocrisy that ruins Yellow Face and its inherent PBS conceit.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
Khalil is the bridge through which the film makes its arguments about the hypocrisy of élite liberal education, which feeds on ideals of free inquiry and free speech and abdicates its responsibility in freeing people.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
His accomplishments on the field are undeniable, and barring him on character issues opens some hypocrisy about the misdeeds of current Hall of Famers.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypocrisy
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Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 June 2025
But that stumble constitutes Hwang’s only confrontation with the hypocrisy that ruins Yellow Face and its inherent PBS conceit.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 May 2025
Khalil is the bridge through which the film makes its arguments about the hypocrisy of élite liberal education, which feeds on ideals of free inquiry and free speech and abdicates its responsibility in freeing people.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 17 May 2025
His accomplishments on the field are undeniable, and barring him on character issues opens some hypocrisy about the misdeeds of current Hall of Famers.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypocrisy
Cite this Entry
“Hypocrisy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypocrisy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hypocrisy
noun
hy·poc·ri·sy
hip-ˈäk-rə-sē
plural hypocrisies
: behavior that does not agree with what one claims to believe or feel
the hypocrisy of people who say one thing and do another
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