holier-than-thou

[ hoh-lee-er-th uh n-th ou ]

/ ˈhoʊ li ər ðənˈðaʊ /

obnoxiously pious; sanctimonious; self-righteous.

a person who is obnoxiously pious or self-righteous.

Nearby words

First recorded in 1910–15

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Herman likes to give the appearance of living this holier-than-thou life.
Herman Cain's Marriage Shaken by Infidelity Charges|Allison Samuels|December 2, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Unfortunately for Edwards, the holier-than-thou approach won her few fans.
The Year in Talk: 2009's 19 Most Pivotal Moments|The Daily Beast Video|December 24, 2009|DAILY BEAST
She shrank from the holier-than-thou attitude; yet to remain quiet might be taken as approval.
The Mystery of Arnold Hall|Helen M. Persons
Happily the generations of cant and holier-than-thou are passing, and we are looking history more honestly in the face.
Heroic Spain|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly

But I don't want you to think you can get away with any holier-than-thou stuff.
Babbitt|Sinclair Lewis
There was no assumption of godliness nor conceit, no holier-than-thou smirk about the child.
The Search|Grace Livingston Hill
There's going to be one house in this scandal-mongering town to-night that isn't going to spring the holier-than-thou.
Babbitt|Sinclair Lewis