hypocritical
Preaching without practicing
Hypocritical describes behavior or attitudes that contradict one's stated beliefs or standards.
A hypocritical person condemns in others what they do themselves, or professes values they don't practice: It's hypocritical to preach honesty while lying to your kids.
The word carries strong moral judgment—calling someone hypocritical accuses them of insincerity or self-deception.
Fraudulent person or thing
- fakeNot the real thing
- feignedFalsely displayed or simulated
- affectedArtificially contrived behavior
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
artificial · sham · false · counterfeit · pretended · mock · hollow · put-on
Insincere and deceptive
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- Janus-facedHaving contradictory aspects
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
falsehearted · perfidious · treacherous · backstabbing · double-standard · insidious · scheming · underhanded
Face-worn concealment
- veneerDecorative outer layer
- guiseExternal manner shown
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- frontForward-facing side
disguise · smokescreen · cover-up · posturing · affectation · playacting · masquerade · show
Smugly moralistic toward others
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- pharisaicalHypocritically self-righteous
- piousFaithfully devoted to worship
- moralisticProne to lecturing others
virtue-signaling · smug · sanctimonious · preachy · judgmental · superior · priggish · pietistic
Logically opposed to itself
- double-standardUnequally applied criterion
- incongruousNot fitting together harmoniously
- self-contradictoryContaining mutual negation
- discrepantNot in agreement
mismatched · ironic · paradoxical · conflicting · at-odds · selective · convenient · expedient
phony
Fraudulent person or thing
insincere · artificial · sham · false · counterfeit · pretended · mock · hollow · put-on · pseudo
two-faced
Insincere and deceptive
- double-dealingDeceptive practice of betrayal
- Janus-facedHaving contradictory aspects
- deceitfulInclined to mislead others
disingenuous · falsehearted · perfidious · treacherous · backstabbing · double-standard · insidious · scheming · underhanded · manipulative
mask
Face-worn concealment
front · disguise · smokescreen · cover-up · posturing · affectation · playacting · masquerade · show · pose
holier-than-thou
Smugly moralistic toward others
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- pharisaicalHypocritically self-righteous
- piousFaithfully devoted to worship
moralistic · virtue-signaling · smug · sanctimonious · preachy · judgmental · superior · priggish · pietistic · self-satisfied
contradictory
Logically opposed to itself
- double-standardUnequally applied criterion
- incongruousNot fitting together harmoniously
- self-contradictoryContaining mutual negation
discrepant · mismatched · ironic · paradoxical · conflicting · at-odds · selective · convenient · expedient · unprincipled
hypocriticalprincipled
Having strong moral beliefs
practicing what one preaches · sincere · genuine · consistent · walks the talk
hypocriticalfrank
Open and direct
open · straightforward · transparent · direct · plain