Need another word that means the same as “sanctimonious”? Find 16 synonyms and 30 related words for “sanctimonious” in this overview.
Table Of Contents:
The synonyms of “Sanctimonious” are: holier-than-thou, pharisaic, pharisaical, pietistic, pietistical, self-righteous, churchy, pious, moralizing, unctuous, smug, superior, priggish, mealy-mouthed, hypocritical, insincere
Sanctimonious as an Adjective
Definitions of "Sanctimonious" as an adjective
According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “sanctimonious” as an adjective can have the following definitions:
- Excessively or hypocritically pious.
- Making a show of being morally superior to other people.
Synonyms of "Sanctimonious" as an adjective (16 Words)
| churchy | (of a person) excessively pious and often narrow-minded. I was famous for being churchy and stuck up. |
| holier-than-thou | Excessively or hypocritically pious. |
| hypocritical | Behaving in a way that suggests one has higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case. It would be entirely hypocritical of me to say I regret it because I don t. |
| insincere | Lacking sincerity. She flashed him an insincere smile. |
| mealy-mouthed | Hesitant to state facts or opinions simply and directly as from e.g. timidity or hypocrisy. |
| moralizing | Having or displaying an overly critical point of view on issues of right and wrong, typically with an unfounded air of superiority. He was given to moralizing speeches. |
| pharisaic | Excessively or hypocritically pious. |
| pharisaical | Excessively or hypocritically pious. |
| pietistic | Excessively or hypocritically pious. |
| pietistical | Of or relating to Pietism. |
| pious | Having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity. A deeply pious woman. |
| priggish | Self-righteously moralistic and superior. She was priggish about sex. |
| self-righteous | Excessively or hypocritically pious. |
| smug | Marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction. He was feeling smug after his win. |
| superior | Of high or superior quality or performance. A superior officer. |
| unctuous | (chiefly of minerals) having a greasy or soapy feel. He seemed anxious to please but not in an unctuous way. |
Usage Examples of "Sanctimonious" as an adjective
- A sickening sanctimonious smile.
- What happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?
Associations of "Sanctimonious" (30 Words)
| baptism | A ceremony or occasion at which baptism takes place. The sacrament of baptism. |
| believing | The cognitive process that leads to convictions. Seeing is believing. |
| blessed | Roman Catholic proclaimed one of the blessed and thus worthy of veneration. He ll want to go and see his blessed allotment. |
| catholic | Free from provincial prejudices or attachments. Her tastes are pretty catholic. |
| christian | Relating to or characteristic of Christianity. |
| congregation | A group of people who adhere to a common faith and habitually attend a given church. This is a shorebird beach with a congregation of plovers inhabiting it. |
| consecrate | Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause. He was consecrated bishop of York. |
| credo | Any system of principles or beliefs. He announced his credo in his first editorial. |
| creed | A formal statement of Christian beliefs, especially the Apostles’ Creed or the Nicene Creed. Liberalism was more than a political creed. |
| denomination | A branch of any religion. The Presbyterian community is the second largest denomination in the country. |
| devout | Deeply religious. A rabbi s devout prayers. |
| ecclesiastic | A clergyman or other person in religious orders. Ecclesiastic history. |
| faith | Strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof. The Christian faith. |
| godly | Emanating from God-Saturday Review. Leading a godly life. |
| hallowed | Made holy; consecrated. The hallowed turf of Wimbledon. |
| holy | Morally and spiritually excellent. Holy smoke. |
| hypocrite | A hypocritical person. The story tells of respectable Ben who turns out to be a cheat and a hypocrite. |
| martyrdom | The death or suffering of a martyr. You know martyrdom isn t my style. |
| pharisaic | Excessively or hypocritically pious. |
| pilgrimage | Go on a pilgrimage. He wanted to go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. |
| pious | Making or constituting a hypocritical display of virtue. Pious readings. |
| religious | A member of a religious order who is bound by vows of poverty and chastity and obedience. Religious in observing the rules of health. |
| reverential | Of the nature of, due to, or characterized by reverence. Their names are always mentioned in reverential tones. |
| sacrament | (in Roman Catholic use) the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, especially the bread or Host. He heard Mass and received the sacrament. |
| sacred | (of writing or text) embodying the laws or doctrines of a religion. A fund sacred to charity. |
| saintly | Marked by utter benignity; resembling or befitting an angel or saint. A truly saintly woman. |
| sanctity | Ultimate importance and inviolability. The site of the tomb was a place of sanctity for the ancient Egyptians. |
| self | Relating to of or by or to or from or for the self. Guilt can be turned against the self. |
| shrine | Enshrine. The saint s bones were enshrined in the cathedral. |
| theism | Belief in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe. There are many different forms of theism. |