Sanctimonious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌsaŋ(k)-tə-ˈmō-nē-əs/ sanc·ti·mo·nious

Meaning & Definition of Sanctimonious

Sanctimonious (adjective)

  1. hypocritically pious or devout
  2. possessing sanctity, holy

Sanctimonious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. pretending to be morally better than other people

    "sanctimonious politicians"

    "A sanctimonious speech from someone who refused to acknowledge his own past failings."

    similar: canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous, self-righteous, simon-pure, artificial, backhanded, counterfeit, double, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, Janus-faced, jive (slang), left-handed, lip, mealy, mealymouthed, Pecksniffian, phony, phony-baloney, pretended, two-faced, unctuous, affected, assumed, claptrap, contrived, forced, mechanical, put-on, simulated, strained, unnatural, empty, hollow, meaningless, deceitful, devious, dishonest, false, untruthful, facile, glib, superficial, bogus, sham, campy, facetious, jocular, tongue-in-cheek
    opposite: artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning, unfeigned, direct, forthright, frank, heart-to-heart, open, plain, straightforward

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sanctimonious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sanctimonious:

Slang: jive
canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous, self-righteous, simon-pure, artificial, backhanded, counterfeit, double, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, Janus-faced, left-handed, lip, mealy, mealymouthed, Pecksniffian, phony, phony-baloney, pretended, two-faced, unctuous, affected, assumed, claptrap, contrived, forced, mechanical, put-on, simulated, strained, unnatural

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sanctimonious

Words with the opposite meaning of Sanctimonious:

artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning, unfeigned, direct, forthright, frank, heart-to-heart, open, plain, straightforward

Word Forms of Sanctimonious

Derived words: sanctimoniously (adverb), sanctimoniousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Sanctimonious

First known use: 1604

Frequently Asked Questions about Sanctimonious

What does "Sanctimonious" mean?

"Sanctimonious" means hypocritically pious or devout. As an adjective, it is defined as: hypocritically pious or devout.

What is another word for "Sanctimonious"?

Other words for "Sanctimonious" include canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous and self-righteous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sanctimonious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sanctimonious"?

There are 58 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sanctimonious". Common alternatives include canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous, self-righteous, simon-pure and artificial.

What is the opposite of "Sanctimonious"?

Antonyms of "Sanctimonious" include artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning and unfeigned.

How do you use "Sanctimonious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sanctimonious" in a sentence: "sanctimonious politicians"; "A sanctimonious speech from someone who refused to acknowledge his own past failings.".

Is "Sanctimonious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sanctimonious" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Sanctimonious"?

"Sanctimonious" is pronounced /ˌsaŋ(k)-tə-ˈmō-nē-əs/ and divided into syllables as sanc·ti·mo·nious.

What is the origin of the word "Sanctimonious"?

First known use: 1604.