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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of self-righteous
Hellbent on destroying the pure, chaste and overly self-righteous preacher who denied her satisfaction, Salome performs a seductive dance at her stepfather Herod’s birthday feast.
—
E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Her character is annoyingly self-righteous, but also very attractive and seemingly interested in David.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
But her cause, once mocked as intolerant and self-righteous, has been revived by members of today’s conservative Christian movement who warn that homosexuality is a threat to children.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
Teddy descends into cruel, self-righteous paranoia, quickly alienating his family — to say nothing of the Maine electorate — in a bid to regain control of his campaign and life.
—Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
E.r. Zarevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2025
Her character is annoyingly self-righteous, but also very attractive and seemingly interested in David.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 26 Jan. 2025
But her cause, once mocked as intolerant and self-righteous, has been revived by members of today’s conservative Christian movement who warn that homosexuality is a threat to children.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
Teddy descends into cruel, self-righteous paranoia, quickly alienating his family — to say nothing of the Maine electorate — in a bid to regain control of his campaign and life.
—Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
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Contemporary accounts describe Antoine as a pious person, initially committed to Catholicism, then to spiritualism.—
Emilien Hofman (Tr. Elettra Pauletto),
The Dial,
20 Mar. 2025
-
As the emboldened queen is beheaded, King Henry is seen preparing to wed his third wife, the pious and soft-spoken Jane Seymour (Kate Phillips).—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the second half becomes increasingly generic conspiracy stuff, leading to a two-part conclusion that’s more smug and sanctimonious than the preceding action can justify.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Nov. 2024
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The Byzantines wrote an amoral flexibility into their system, despite its putative religiosity—a realistic approach that has become more difficult to accomplish in the United States, partly owing to the power of a sanctimonious media establishment.—
Robert D. Kaplan,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Here are some of the most affordable autos A Chinese brain chip company could soon surpass Elon Musk's Neuralink The 10 most dishonest states in America — according to Las Vegas defense lawyers Costco's Kirkland brand became a massive financial success.—
William Gavin,
Quartz,
31 Mar. 2025
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Attempting to separate Robinson’s baseball career from racial animus and conflict feels intellectually dishonest.—
Ken Makin,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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The story is predictably moralistic and, frankly, more worried about conforming to contemporary mores than accurately representing what was going on in Cuba in the 1950s, dramatically speaking anyway.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While petty revenge can be amusing—and satisfying in the moment—Best suggested a different approach to dealing with strained neighbor relationships.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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Throughout the series, the strained relationship between father and son highlights the repercussions of family communication breakdowns.—
Laurel Donnellan,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Due to its mild alkaline (acid-reducing) effect and abrasive texture, baking soda can help remove superficial stains and reduce bacteria in the mouth.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Health,
27 Mar. 2025
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Her framework moves beyond superficial advice, addressing the root causes of insecurity while offering practical tools for lasting change.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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After Wednesday’s speech, some critics went online to accuse the governor of being hypocritical for making that charge against Trump in light of his pandemic actions.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
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Phil Lyman, a former state representative and Trump supporter who challenged Mr. Cox for governor last year, said politicians like Mr. Cox were hypocritical.—
Kellen Browning,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Last season, Bailey recorded eight tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight quarterback hurries and five forced fumbles, leading Stanford in every category.—
Sam Khan Jr.,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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During his nine years in the NFL, Wells recorded 529 total tackles, two and a half sacks, three interceptions and six forced fumbles.—
Natasha Dye,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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