holier than thou
Morally superior attitude
Holier than thou describes a self-righteous attitude of moral superiority—acting as if one's virtue exceeds everyone else's.
The phrase comes from the Bible but now serves mainly as criticism: I can't stand her holier-than-thou lectures about organic food.
Someone holier than thou judges others while assuming their own behavior is beyond reproach.
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- moral high groundPerceived position of righteousness
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
judgmental · condescending · looking down on · superior · high horse · pious · moralistic · prudish · snobbish · ivory tower · hypocritical · casting stones · pompous · arrogant · above it all · sermon · pulpit · finger-wagging
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- ego termsbig ego, bruised ego, ego boost, ego trip, fragile ego
- superlativesexcellent, superb, best, outstanding, supreme
- Christianesealtar call, backslider, blessed, born again, churched
holier than thouhumble
Unassuming about oneself
self-deprecating · modest · unassuming · self-effacing · self-aware
holier than thouhumble
Unassuming about oneself
meek · lowly · unpretentious · unassuming · salt of the earth
holier than thounonjudgmental
Not forming harsh opinions
tolerant · forgiving · accepting · live and let live · unjudging