sanctimonious

[ sangk-tuh-moh-nee-uhs ]

adjective

1. making a hypocritical show of religious devotion, piety, righteousness, etc.:

   They resented his sanctimonious comments on immorality in America.

2. Obsolete. holy; sacred.

sanctimonious

/ ˌsæŋktɪˈməʊnɪəs /

adjective

1. affecting piety or making a display of holiness

Derived Forms

• ˌsanctiˈmoniousness, noun
• ˈsanctimony, noun
• ˌsanctiˈmoniously, adverb

Other Words From

• sancti·moni·ous·ly adverb
• sancti·moni·ous·ness noun
• nonsanc·ti·moni·ous adjective
• nonsanc·ti·moni·ous·ly adverb
• nonsanc·ti·moni·ous·ness noun
• unsanc·ti·moni·ous adjective
• unsanc·ti·moni·ous·ly adverb
• unsanc·ti·moni·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctimonious¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; sanctimony + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sanctimonious¹

C17: from Latin sanctimonia sanctity, from sanctus holy

Example Sentences

The sanctimonious, the puritans of all stripes, and the killjoys in general raise the issue annually.

From The Daily Beast

It is a sanctimonious doctor show combined with a sanctimonious mob drama—and misses the core of the profession.

From The Daily Beast

One purported fan blogged a review calling the interlude “an interminable and sanctimonious speech.”

From The Daily Beast

Other terms for Santorum: “religious,” “sanctimonious,” and “God-talker.”

From The Daily Beast

The pious, sanctimonious Oscar ceremony is how Hollywood wants to see itself.

From The Daily Beast

This contriver of miracles, of a countenance at once sanctimonious, artful and sly, preceded other prelates carrying banners.

From Project Gutenberg

Just keep up your sanctimonious appearance and stick to your Deacon story, and you'll git off.

From Project Gutenberg

If he was remorseful, so was she; she never wanted to see his sanctimonious face again.

From Project Gutenberg

Most learned, fair, and sanctimonious Princess—Plague, what comes next?

From Project Gutenberg

Of the sanctimonious tone we may say that it has its reward in the almost universal contempt it provokes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hypocritical
• insincere
• pious
• self-satisfied
• smug
• stuffy