pharisaical
Hypocritically self-righteous
Pharisaical means self-righteously pious or hypocritically devout—making a show of religious observance while lacking genuine virtue.
The word comes from the Pharisees, an ancient Jewish sect portrayed in the New Testament as obsessed with ritual law while missing its spirit.
The term now applies broadly to anyone whose moral posturing exceeds their actual conduct: His pharisaical lecturing about family values rang hollow given his affairs.
Insincere and deceptive
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- falseNot matching reality
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
insincere · deceitful · feigned · sham · phony · fraudulent · artificial · hollow
Smugly moralistic toward others
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- piousFaithfully devoted to worship
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
- preachyExcessively moralizing in tone
priggish · puritanical · moralistic · goody-goody · unctuous · pontifical · sermonizing · pietistic
Expressing severe disapproval
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
- disapprovingExpressing unfavorable opinion
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
reproachful · scornful · denunciatory · carping · contemptuous · harsh · nitpicking · accusatory
two-faced
Insincere and deceptive
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
- falseNot matching reality
disingenuous · insincere · deceitful · feigned · sham · phony · fraudulent · artificial · hollow · lip service
holier-than-thou
Smugly moralistic toward others
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- piousFaithfully devoted to worship
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
preachy · priggish · puritanical · moralistic · goody-goody · unctuous · pontifical · sermonizing · pietistic · moralizing
condemning
Expressing severe disapproval
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- censoriousSeverely critical in judgment
- disapprovingExpressing unfavorable opinion
critical · reproachful · scornful · denunciatory · carping · contemptuous · harsh · nitpicking · accusatory · disdainful
pharisaicalgenuine
Truly what it claims
authentic · sincere · unpretentious · honest · guileless
pharisaicaltolerant
Accepting of differences
forgiving · compassionate · understanding · nonjudgmental · merciful