as in pious
disapproving
having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong
a self-righteous tone It's OK to criticize, but don't get self-righteous about it.
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Recent Examples of self-righteous
Because strength in a character dimension can operate in an excess vice state when not supported by other dimensions, there is a danger of unbalanced character manifesting in the dangerous space of being self-righteous.
—
Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
The film also adopts an unfortunate and unearned self-righteous tone, especially in the credits.
—Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
They are sent off to a grandmother in Ontario who is the epitome of cold, self-righteous Protestant virtue.
—Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Today's Democratic party is dominated by self-righteous, upper-middle class, coastal elites—people wealthy enough to avoid sending their children to failing public schools and able to overlook the true costs of their green agenda.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
The film also adopts an unfortunate and unearned self-righteous tone, especially in the credits.
—Anupama Chopra, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
They are sent off to a grandmother in Ontario who is the epitome of cold, self-righteous Protestant virtue.
—Margaret Atwood, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
Today's Democratic party is dominated by self-righteous, upper-middle class, coastal elites—people wealthy enough to avoid sending their children to failing public schools and able to overlook the true costs of their green agenda.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
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Jill’s teenage son Brad (George Ferrier) is just as calculating, if not nearly as savvy, pressuring his pious girlfriend Abby (Madison Wolfe) for a repeat of their prom-night hookup while pursuing other partners.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
21 July 2025
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Those healthy enough were put through a daily regimen of religious education and physical schooling intended to train them to be pious and obedient.—
Ann Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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Of course, most of these sanctimonious snore-mongers linger on in one shrunken form or another, still screaming obscenities and shaking their fists at the moon.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
28 June 2025
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The smug and sanctimonious tenor of their briefing makes that plain.—
Christie D’Zurilla,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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McClure is also accused of attempting to change his patient care reports in order to cover up his actions and being dishonest during interviews with his supervisors about the incident.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
11 July 2025
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Raynor was accused of having been dishonest about facts, including the way the author and her husband, Moth Winn — whose real names are allegedly Sally and Tim Walker — found themselves without a home.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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But Europeans cannot simply revert to a moralistic tendency to tell others what to do.—
Josep Borrell Fontelles,
Foreign Affairs,
27 June 2025
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The same moralistic spirit that once defined Minnesota’s politics now fuels passionate polarization.—
David Schultz,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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There has been a gradual normalization of ties between India and China in recent months after relations were deeply strained in June 2020, when a brutal hand-to-hand battle in the Galwan Valley left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
24 July 2025
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The Taliban’s strained relationships with Iran and Pakistan further complicate reintegration efforts.—
Natasha Lindstaedt,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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The damage looked superficial, while the rider himself was laid-back.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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Unfortunately, many of these individuals are disillusioned with the traditional path and are enticed by the allure of fast money, luxurious lifestyles, and superficial beauty without any effort or hard work.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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There’s no question which member of Congress put on the year’s most hypocritical legislative performance.—
Carl P. Leubsdorf,
Twin Cities,
23 July 2025
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There’s just this hypocritical system in which there is demand for immigrant labor in many industries, along with demonization of these very contributors.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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His numbers from last season: 39 QB pressures, 31 tackles, eight TFLs, seven sacks and five forced fumbles.—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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Both ByteDance and China have long been opposed to a forced sale, with the Chinese commerce ministry insisting that China must sign off on any sale that includes TikTok's algorithm, since that would be considered an export of Chinese technology.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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