virtue signal
Public conscience display
To virtue signal is to express moral values or political opinions primarily to demonstrate one's good character rather than to effect change.
The term is almost always pejorative, implying the person cares more about appearing virtuous than being virtuous: She's just virtue signaling with that post about climate change.
Critics use it to dismiss advocacy as performative.
The noun is virtue signaling.
Done for appearance's sake
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
- holier-than-thouSmugly moralistic toward others
slacktivism · self-righteous · inauthentic · tokenism · smugness · pandering · superficial · ostentatious
Creating distinctive identity
- self-imageOne's view of oneself
- personaAssumed public identity
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
- imageVisual or mental likeness
status · recognition · self-expression · tribe · in-group · profile · authenticity · affiliations
performative
Done for appearance's sake
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- sanctimoniousFeigning moral superiority
holier-than-thou · slacktivism · self-righteous · inauthentic · tokenism · smugness · pandering · superficial · ostentatious · showboating
branding
Creating distinctive identity
- self-imageOne's view of oneself
- personaAssumed public identity
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
image · status · recognition · self-expression · tribe · in-group · profile · authenticity · affiliations · badge
activism
Direct effort for reform
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
- causeWhat produces an effect
champion · solidarity · grassroots · movement · outreach · petition · protest · allyship · platform · amplify
- political buzzwordswoke, wokeness, dog whistle, dogwhistle, fake news
- political jargonfilibuster, gerrymandering, caucus, pork barrel, lame duck
- internet culturememes, meme, trolling, influencers, content creators
virtue signalmoral integrity
Consistent ethical character
true believer · principled stand · walk the walk · walking the walk · real deal
virtue, signal, virtues, virtuous, virtuously, virtuousness, signals, signaled, signaling