Self-righteous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌself-ˈrī-chəs/ self-righ·teous

Meaning & Definition of Self-righteous

Self-righteous (adjective)

  1. convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others, narrow-mindedly moralistic

Self-righteous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a strong belief that your own actions, opinions, etc., are right and other people's are wrong

    "a self-righteous tone"

    "It's OK to criticize, but don't get self-righteous about it."

    similar: canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous, sanctimonious, 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 Self-righteous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Self-righteous:

Slang: jive
canting, goody-goody, holier-than-thou, moralistic, pharisaical, pious, rectitudinous, sanctimonious, 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 Self-righteous

Words with the opposite meaning of Self-righteous:

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

Word Forms of Self-righteous

Derived words: self-righteously (adverb), self-righteousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Self-righteous

First known use: circa 1680

Frequently Asked Questions about Self-righteous

What does "Self-righteous" mean?

"Self-righteous" means convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others, narrow-mindedly moralistic. As an adjective, it is defined as: convinced of one's own righteousness especially in contrast with the actions and beliefs of others, narrow-mindedly moralistic.

What is another word for "Self-righteous"?

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

What are different ways to say "Self-righteous"?

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

What is the opposite of "Self-righteous"?

Antonyms of "Self-righteous" include artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning and unfeigned.

How do you use "Self-righteous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Self-righteous" in a sentence: "a self-righteous tone"; "It's OK to criticize, but don't get self-righteous about it.".

Is "Self-righteous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Self-righteous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Self-righteous"?

"Self-righteous" is pronounced /ˌself-ˈrī-chəs/ and divided into syllables as self-righ·teous.

What is the origin of the word "Self-righteous"?

First known use: circa 1680.