moral superiority
Holier-than-thou attitude
Moral superiority is the belief or attitude that one's ethical standards, values, or conduct place them above others.
The term is almost always used critically—to accuse someone of self-righteousness rather than to praise genuine virtue: She spoke with an air of moral superiority that alienated everyone.
Someone claiming moral superiority positions themselves as judge of others' behavior while assuming their own is beyond reproach.
The phrase often appears in political discourse, where opposing sides accuse each other of it.
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- holier than thouSmugly morally superior
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
virtue signaling · pious · condescending · looking down on · high and mighty · virtue · judgment · preaching · soapbox · lecturing · finger-wagging · preachy · moralizing · snob · elitist · ivory tower · disdain · contempt
- moral emotionsguilt, shame, remorse, conscience, compunction
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- tribalismtribalism, in-group, out-group, outgroup, ingroup
moral superiorityhumility
Freedom from arrogance
modesty · self-abasement · shame · guilt · contrition
moral superiorityhumility
Freedom from arrogance
modesty · self-criticism · unpretentiousness · meekness · self-effacement
moral superioritymoral corruption
Degradation of ethical principles
moral bankruptcy · wickedness · moral turpitude · villainy · sinfulness
moral, morals, morality, moralism, moralist, moralistic, morally, immoral, immorally