as in moralistic
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Recent Examples of pharisaical
Lists are no substitute for criticism, but those who take them as inimical to criticism are pharisaical.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2022
David and Samuel explore the U.S. energy sector and evaluate what the future holds in an ESG landscape that has done its very best to bring economic incoherence to its pharisaical agenda.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Jan. 2022
Yet Marlin makes clear that excommunication was never a real threat but rather one that Cuomo shrewdly used to turn himself into a victim of pharisaical bishops.
—Vincent J. Cannato, National Review, 7 Nov. 2020
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 6 Dec. 2022
David and Samuel explore the U.S. energy sector and evaluate what the future holds in an ESG landscape that has done its very best to bring economic incoherence to its pharisaical agenda.
—Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 16 Jan. 2022
Yet Marlin makes clear that excommunication was never a real threat but rather one that Cuomo shrewdly used to turn himself into a victim of pharisaical bishops.
—Vincent J. Cannato, National Review, 7 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pharisaical
Adjective
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Those on the left must recognize that their moralistic zeal and narrowing of intellectual discourse have turned educational and cultural institutions into engines of alienation, not trust.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
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Aster isn’t merely mocking them; his real point is that moralistic self-righteousness has become a kind of addiction in America.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The sanctimonious proto-Communist bait of Good Night, and Good Luck Activist-actor George Clooney confirms his hyphenate status by adapting his vapid 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck for the Broadway stage.—
Armond White,
National Review,
30 Apr. 2025
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The sanctimonious Trudeau, a lightning rod for the anti-woke backlash that exists even in Canada, resigned.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The baron and his pious daughter seem at peace with their mutual estrangement until Zsa-zsa suddenly decides to break that habit.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2025
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But while the main character’s mother in that movie was an antagonistic figure, Fatima’s parents are portrayed as kind, not dogmatic or ostentatiously pious.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Kathleen O’Leary, Boca Raton Get a mirror, Marco The Republican Party is the most hypocritical group of politicians this country has ever seen, and Marco Rubio its biggest hypocrite of all.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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If that strikes you as a little suspicious, maybe even hypocritical, well, have both Bechdels got a book for you.—
Sam Thielman,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Socially engaged cinema of this kind gets a bad rap these days; it is seen as old and tired or, worse still, superior and self-righteous.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
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There’s nothing preachy or self-righteous about Frank’s writing.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Unlike baseball, with some of its holier-than-thou decisions with its Hall of Fame, the Basketball Hall of Fame largely looks at career on-court achievements.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2025
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Laurie, now adopting her own holier-than-thou perch, is just as bad.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That’s not to say the film’s focus on the magic and mysteries male companionship is insincere.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
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Consider New Perspectives And Feedback Employees can tell when relationships are insincere, which is why leaders must practice empathy and authenticity so that trust, collaboration and cultural awareness can take root.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The frenzied yet articulate tenor Gerhard Siegel, a veteran Herod, oozes unctuous entitlement.—
Zachary Woolfe,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Then Maddy unexpectedly turns on the humor and charm when Austin’s Hollywood agent Saul — played with unctuous insincerity by Dave Rivas — arrives to talk business.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pharisaical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pharisaical. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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