sanctimonious
Smugly morally superior
Sanctimonious describes someone who makes a show of being morally superior, especially while judging others.
The word carries strong negative connotations—a sanctimonious person isn't genuinely devout or ethical but merely performs righteousness: His sanctimonious lecturing about family values rang hollow after the affair came to light.
The tone is always hypocritical or self-satisfied.
Excessively self-satisfied
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- piousFaithfully devoted to worship
- pharisaicalHypocritically self-righteous
- priggishSmugly self-righteous
preachy · moralizing · pontifical · puritanical · goody-goody · unctuous · superior · condescending
Severely critical in judgment
- disapprovingExpressing unfavorable opinion
- condemningExpressing severe disapproval
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- reproachfulShowing blame or disappointment
disdainful · scornful · contemptuous · moralistic · fault-finding · self-appointed · holier-than-thou · sneering
Feigning belief or feeling
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
false · feigned · sham · posturing · canting · dissembling · pretentious · affected
Sincere religious devotion
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- zealotObsessive cause supporter
- fundamentalistStrict original-doctrine adherent
orthodox · devout · ecclesiastical · pietistic · holiness · churchy · godliness · reverent
smug
Excessively self-satisfied
- self-righteousSmugly certain of correctness
- piousFaithfully devoted to worship
- pharisaicalHypocritically self-righteous
priggish · preachy · moralizing · pontifical · puritanical · goody-goody · unctuous · superior · condescending · complacent
censorious
Severely critical in judgment
- disapprovingExpressing unfavorable opinion
- condemningExpressing severe disapproval
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
reproachful · disdainful · scornful · contemptuous · moralistic · fault-finding · self-appointed · holier-than-thou · sneering · derisive
insincere
Feigning belief or feeling
- two-facedInsincere and deceptive
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
- disingenuousFeigning ignorance or innocence
duplicitous · false · feigned · sham · posturing · canting · dissembling · pretentious · affected · ostentatious
piety
Sincere religious devotion
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- zealotObsessive cause supporter
fundamentalist · orthodox · devout · ecclesiastical · pietistic · holiness · churchy · godliness · reverent · sacredness
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, two-faced, self-righteousness, holier than thou
- Shakespeare phrasesto be or not to be, et tu Brute, all the world's a stage, out damned spot, friends Romans countrymen
- intolerantbigoted, biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, intolerant
sanctimonioushumble
Unassuming about oneself
modest · self-effacing · meek · unassuming · unpretentious
sanctimoniousdevout
Deeply religious, sincere
pious · impious · godly · reverent · irreligious
sanctimoniousnonjudgmental
Not forming harsh opinions
tolerant · accepting · open-minded · live-and-let-live · forgiving