virtue signalled
Broadcast moral credentials
Virtue signalled is the past tense of virtue signal—to publicly 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 that the speaker's concern is performative rather than genuine: She virtue signalled about climate change while flying private jets.
Critics use it to dismiss expressions of social conscience as self-serving display.
- moralizingDelivering ethical lectures
- performativeDone for appearance's sake
- empty gestureInsincere symbolic act
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
- sanctimonyFeigned moral superiority
holier than thou · slacktivism · thoughts and prayers · impression management · self-righteousness · authenticity · cancel culture · sincerity · wokeism · integrity · moral high ground · self-promotion · groupthink · herd mentality · influencer culture · public relations · political correctness · consequentialism
virtue signalledmade a difference
Had meaningful effect
rolled up one's sleeves · showed up · put one's money where one's mouth is · volunteered
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