as in pious
formal + disapproving
pretending to be morally better than other people
sanctimonious politicians A sanctimonious speech from someone who refused to acknowledge his own past failings.
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Recent Examples of sanctimonious
Just enough with the sanctimonious explanations.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
The point here was clear for those who chose to listen: the President doesn’t care one bit about all those sanctimonious calls for healing.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2025
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
The smug and sanctimonious tenor of their briefing makes that plain.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimonious
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025
The point here was clear for those who chose to listen: the President doesn’t care one bit about all those sanctimonious calls for healing.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2025
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
The smug and sanctimonious tenor of their briefing makes that plain.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sanctimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctimonious
Adjective
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Singh, who would be our local guide, always wore the five traits of a pious Sikh man — uncut hair (symbolizing strength and holiness and topped by the identifying turban), a steel bracelet, wooden comb, sheathed dagger and a baggy undergarment dating back to the Sikhs’ warrior days on horses.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In the old days, when Muslims had a great civilization, their smart and pious people also got paid for being smart and pious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
So, wins were not a meaningless line on the stat sheet in King Félix’s heyday — but the voters in this election seemed to have a different take.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But for current and past dog parents, that sentiment is far from meaningless.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctimonious. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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