holier-than-thou

American  

[hoh-lee-er-thuhn-thou] / ˈhoʊ li ər ðənˈðaʊ /

adjective

1. obnoxiously pious; sanctimonious; self-righteous.

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noun

1. a person who is obnoxiously pious or self-righteous.

Etymology

Origin of holier-than-thou

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

“We can act holier-than-thou. We can sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be, or we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s like a milkshake gone bad. I don’t like holier-than-thou people. I hate that.”

From Los Angeles Times

I like that Shetty doesn’t approach his work from a holier-than-thou perspective — his general vibe seems to be, This is what worked for me, and if you want to try it, cool.

From Los Angeles Times

Longtime friends lauded Hartmire’s ability to weave his community into social justice causes without coming across as holier-than-thou.

From Los Angeles Times

Their core complaint is the court’s holier-than-thou posture, exemplified by the black robes the justices wear in public.

From New York Times