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
Open and humorous in person, he was described by critics – and even some supporters – as stubborn, didactic and self-righteous.
—
Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
Their reach and impact collectively are far more effective and balanced than the self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The book hinges on a conflict between self-righteous Burghers, who live in cities, and resentful, paranoid rural people known as Yeomen.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Their reach and impact collectively are far more effective and balanced than the self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Nicole West Bassoff, The Conversation, 14 Nov. 2025
Their reach and impact collectively are far more effective and balanced than the self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
The book hinges on a conflict between self-righteous Burghers, who live in cities, and resentful, paranoid rural people known as Yeomen.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Their reach and impact collectively are far more effective and balanced than the self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for self-righteous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-righteous
Adjective
-
In his native Paine, a quiet agricultural town just south of Santiago, some residents remember the Kast family fondly as a pious clan who built a successful meat and restaurant business.—
John Bartlett,
NPR,
11 Mar. 2026
-
His political campaign is spinning into high gear, posting videos showing him as a pious governor holding a Bible, praying and hugging pastors.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But Michael assessed Anthropic’s terms as both restrictive and sanctimonious.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Look, sports and sanctimonious have gone hand in hand from the earliest of days of newspaper columnists to the most recent of social-media outlets.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This is dishonest and partisan.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Mar. 2026
-
This is dishonest and partisan.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Good intentions — and handsome animation — aside, Forevergreen is ultimately too maudlin and moralistic to rank it much higher than this.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The script, penned by Bartek Bartosik and Naqqash Khalid, becomes bizarrely moralistic by the end, insinuating that the debased and debauched might perhaps see their problems solved by becoming domesticated.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When Sony ultimately gets its way, Anderson and DiCaprio’s once-close relationship is noticeably strained on set.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those claims at a White House meeting last year that underlined the strained relationship.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the researcher Shaoyu Yuan thinks that even superficial trends like Chinamaxxing may serve an unexpected purpose.—
Ashish Valentine,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Currently, the simulator cannot train clinicians to diagnose superficial endometriosis.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The tech entrepreneur, who founded a fitness app and a financial management platform catering to young and wealthy customers, also characterizes Khanna’s stock trading as hypocritical since the congressman campaigns on easing inequality.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The permanent observer of the 22-nation Arab League, Maged Abdelaziz, suggested Israel was being hypocritical in justifying its military attack by saying it was intended to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.—
Edith M. Lederer,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Connecticut State Police’s Tactical Team was requested to assist and made forced entry into the residence.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Gosling seems genuinely interested in the watches, meaning the partnership feels authentic and the watch cameos not overly forced.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-righteous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-righteous. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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